In the beginning of the 19th century, salons and homes served as venues for performing hits of the time as well overtures from operas and pieces for big orchestras that were arranged for small ensembles, such as for two guitars. The instruments that are played in the concert are so-called period instruments, namely guitars from the Romantic period, and one of them is an authentic Louis Panormo guitar from 1838 and the other a copy of this exact instrument (Gary Southwell, 1993). The most distinct difference compared to a contemporary guitar is the smaller size. The compositions, composers, arrangers and instruments are all from the same period.
Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868): Overture from the opera La Gazza Ladra
Arrangement for two guitars by Mauro Giuliani (1781–1829)
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): Symphony No. 104 in D Major (Hob.I:104), Op. 152.
I. Adagio-Allegro
Arrangement for two guitars by Ferdinando Carulli (1770–1841).
Ferdinando Carulli (1770–1841): Duo No. 2 in G Major, Op. 34
I. Largo
II. Rondo
The guitar duo consists of student Eetu Yrjänä from the Sibelius Academy’s Degree Programme in Music Performance and university arts teacher Janne Malinen from the Sibelius Academy. What they have in common is a long-term teacher-student relationship that has evolved into collegial cooperation between two award-winning musicians and their burning passion for the guitar and music from the Romantic period.