All three were famous throughout Europe: Mauro Giuliani as a guitar virtuoso, Niccolò Paganini as a violin virtuoso and Gioachino Rossini as a composer of operas. All three were good friends: they often met in Rossini’s villa in Rome in order to enjoy each other’s music and company. The entrancing mood of these friendly musical evenings is brought back to life in Emanuele Segre’s wonderful recording: Giuliani’s Rossiniana Op. 119/1, three pieces from his Giulianate Op. 148 as well as his transcription of Rossini’s Overture to Semiramide, and Paganini’s (who, by the way, was also an excellent guitarist) three Sonatas and the Minuetto «Che va chiamando Dida.»

The young Italian guitarist Emanuele Segre has won prizes at a number of important competitions and is already a much sought-after performer in Europe and in the United States, where he has once again been invited to perform in Carnegie Recital Hall in March.