This album presents a diverse and innovative program of 20th-century Italian music for guitar, performed by Franz Halász.

It explores the evolution of Italian instrumental music from tradition to modernity, through works by Goffredo Petrassi, Luciano Berio, Nuccio D’Angelo, and Alessandro Solbiati.

Petrassi’s Suoni Notturni (1959) and Nunc (1971) reflect his journey from neo-classicism to twelve-tone techniques.

Suoni Notturni evokes the “night of the soul,” blending dodecaphonic rigor with rich guitar timbres.

Nunc is lighter in texture, with rhythmic complexity and a mechanical edge, yet remains deeply expressive.

Berio’s Sequenza XI (1988) challenges the performer with extreme virtuosity and cultural multiplicity.

Incorporating flamenco rasgueados, heavy-metal techniques, and jazz influences, Berio redefines the guitar’s expressive possibilities, while maintaining his characteristic theatrical contrasts.

Nuccio D’Angelo’s Due Canzoni Lidie (1984) conjure an enchanted atmosphere, blending lyrical exploration of the Lydian mode with a poetic sense of discovery.

His Magie (1990) draws on jazz to create an impression of controlled improvisation, balancing structured development with spontaneous expression.

Alessandro Solbiati’s Tre Pezzi (1986–87) offer contrasting character pieces: a tremolo study, a lullaby-like meditation on his daughter’s birth, and a forceful chorale.

Though not a guitarist himself, Solbiati’s writing reveals a deep understanding of the instrument’s colors and textures.

This recording captures the richness of Italy’s guitar tradition, bridging historical idioms with contemporary experimentation.

Franz Halász’s sensitive interpretations highlight both the technical challenges and poetic beauty of these significant works.