Matiegka: Complete Guitar Sonatas Vol. 1

Wenzel Thomas Matiegka, who came from Bohemia, was a contemporary of Ludwig van Beethoven and a celebrated guitarist. His reputation was established after he settled in Vienna, where he was accepted into musical circles that included Franz Schubert. Matiegka's works reflect the influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn while simultaneously exploring the virtuosic possibilities of the guitar, combining lyrical serenity with refreshing high spirits and compelling technique. This is the first part of a complete edition of the guitar sonatas by Wenzel Thomas Matiegka on two albums. Matiegka is a composer whose work is known and highly valued by some serious guitar enthusiasts, but whose music has been overshadowed by the popularity of composers such as Fernando Sor and Mauro Giuliani. Regarded as one of the leading representatives of the flourishing Viennese guitar school of the early 19th century, Matiegka was undoubtedly an influential figure in the fashionable guitar scene of his time. Leading concert guitarists of the 20th century such as Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, and John Williams seem to have had no access to Matiegka's compositions, which is why the re-evaluation of his qualities is still ongoing. The works selected for this recording undoubtedly exhibit many of the unique and most interesting features of guitar compositions from Matiegka's time, from lyrically expressive movements to spectacular virtuosic capers.