Mauro Giuliani (1781 - 1829) is currently mainly known to lovers of classical guitar music. When he lived he was an unavoidable Italian guitar virtuoso and one of the last great classical spokesmen for his instrument until its resurgence at the beginning of the 20th century.

After a successful European Tour, he settled down in Vienna in 1806. Despite the fact that Italians preferred opera over classical guitar, he soon became part of the Viennese establishment. Apart from performing others' music, he also composed, and three of his works for violin and guitar are recorded by Duo Concertante (Kim Sjøgren on violin and Lars Hannibal on guitar).

As mentioned, although the guitar was Giuliani's preferred instrument, it is interesting that the focus on this cd is on the violin, where the guitar has more of an accompaniment function. The music is sweet, languorous, seductive, and particularly romantic! The comparison could be made with today's informal and artistically unambitious easy listening, that do not move the listener but rather acts as a delicious background sound. But being played so cleverly, one can only nod one's head in appreciation of two such great musicians as Sjøgren and Hannibal.

The three works are rhytmically well modulated and melodically inspired, and it is great that those recordings from 1988 are released on a cd perfect for lazy Sundays!.