Mauro Giuliani

Famed Italian guitar virtuoso and composer, Mauro Giuliani started his musical studies on cello and counterpoint. He moved to Vienna in 1806 where he entered the musical circle of Diabelli, Moscheles, and Hummel. He solidified his reputation with the 1808 premiere of his Guitar Concerto in A major, Op. 30, and was soon heralded as the greatest living guitar virtuoso. Around 1814, Giuliani was named virtuoso onorario di camera to Napoleon's second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. But, deeply in debt, he returned to Italy in 1819.

Giuliani published more than 200 works; his most durable pieces include three lyrical concertos in a late Classical/early Romantic style, and, for solo guitar, the Grand Overture, Op. 61, and a series of six sometimes long-winded suites, Le Rossiniane, based on tunes by Gioacchino Rossini.