Italian guitarist and composer Luigi Legnani performed widely throughout Europe and was admired by Paganini as the guitar’s “leading player” of his day. Legnani’s virtuosity was eminently suited to the 19th century fashion for transcribing and writing variations on famous opera themes that range from the romance of L’Italiana in Algeri to the drama of Armida. The ‘orchestral’ colours of the guitar are fully explored with breathtaking special techniques and imitative effects.