Legnani, Luigi Rinaldo ( 1790-1877 Italy)
Luigi Legnani was born in Ferrara (7th of November 1790). At a very early age he was trained as a string player, but he dedicated himself in the guitar and voice. He had performed in operas by Rossini, Pacini, and Donizetti as a tenor.
His career as a guitarist began with a concert in Milan in 1819; his 1822 concerts in Vienna were a great success, and he was hailed as a star when he returned there in 1833 and 1839. He is perhaps best known for his 36 Caprices for the guitar, which cover all the major and minor keys, and which were probably inspired by Paganini's 24 Caprices for the violin.
After the 1850s Legnani retired from active performance and became an instrument maker, concentrating on guitars and violins. The "Legnani model" guitar was popular in Central Europe through the middle of the nineteenth century.
Legnani composed some 250 works, which were published in his lifetime throughout many of the major publishing houses in Europe. He died in Ravenna, in 1877.
(source:www.wikipedia.org)
(*) : Belongs to the Academic Library of Stockholm
