An exclusive and fascinating instrument, the lyre-guitar was created in Paris by the luthier Pierre-Charles Mareschal, who claimed to have invented it around 1780. It shone in the noble salons of Europe during the Napoleonic Age, between the end of the 18th century and the first decades of the 19th century. The lyre-guitar, with its refined and elegant shape reminiscent of the ancient Greek lyre, was at that time a 'status symbol' instrument much loved by the fairer sex, as it enhanced their grace and beauty. It was often played by noble ladies, but also by musicians who used it to accompany singing, such as the Austrian baritone Johann Michael Vogl, a great friend of Franz Schubert. Even the great guitarist Mauro Giuliani performed a few times with this instrument. This new recording presents works written for Lyre-guitar by French composers Charles Doisy (?-1807), Alexandre Alfred Rougeon-Beauclair (?-1829), Pierre Joseph Plouvier (1750-1825) and Jean-Antoine Meissonnier (1783-1857): a feast of light-hearted, charming and enchanting music! Domenico Lafasciano is one of the very few lyre-guitar concert performers of today. Graduated with top marks at Padua Conservatory, he perfected himself with Alirio Diaz, Alexandre Lagoya, Siegfried Behrend and Jose Luis Lopategui. He met with Andres Segovia, who let him play his own guitar, and with John W. Duarte, who dedicated one of his compositions to him.
