Between 1953 and 1967, the Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco wrote a series of Greeting Cards. These 52 musical folios, 21 of which were written for the guitar – an instrument that had inspired him since he first heard Segovia perform – are pen portraits of admired colleagues. Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s imagination and technical mastery are reinforced by the use of rhythms associated with the dedicatees’ nationality or through evocations inspired by their names. The cycle offers a surprising, generous and rewarding body of musical cryptology that belies its small-scale form.

Andrea De Vitis is considered one of the most talented guitarists of his generation and has won over 40 awards at several prestigious competitions, including the Guitar Masters International Guitar Competition in Wrocław, the ‘Altamira’ Guitar Competition in Iserlohn, and the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition.

He has recorded two volumes of Tansman’s guitar music for Naxos. Volume 1 is on 8573983 which American Record Guide said was ‘A great addition to the Naxos catalogue. I look forward to the next instalment.’ The second volume can be heard on 8573984 which was also commended by the American Record Guide: ‘This is a lovely recording of little-known works!’

Naxos has two albums of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s music for two guitars on 8570778: ‘This is great playing. This is wonderful music played at the highest interpretive level’ (American Record Guide). On 8570779, MusicWeb International wrote: ‘thoroughly enjoyable and recommendable’.