Antoine de Lhoyer, a French contemporary of Beethoven, was a royalist and professional soldier whose life was deeply affected by European history.
This recording was made possible through sponsorship from Furestiftelsen, Oslo.
Around 1800, Antoine de Lhoyer was considered by the Spaniard B. Vidal, a skilled musician himself, to be 'the best guitar player in Europe'.
The Air varié et dialogue, featured on this album, is claimed to be the earliest guitar quartet in the repertory.
The guitars used for this recording were made by Michael Gee, with models 428, 560, 533, and 596, dating from 2000-2012.
Antoine de Lhoyer's life was closely tied to the Bourbon monarchy; he was anti-Revolutionary, despised Napoleon, and was loyal to the King.
The works on this album are described as 'manly, elegantly voiced virtuoso music' belonging more to intimate salon evenings than to the battlefield.
