Search - Silvius Leopold Weiss :: Weiss: L'Esprit Italienne

Silvius Leopold Weiss (1687-1750) was one of the greatest composers for the lute after Bach himself, who was his almost exact contemporary. Weiss, like Mozart, was first taught by his father, and was a child prodigy who played before the Emperor at the age of seven. Though he grew up in Germany, in his early 20s he journeyed to Rome and learned the Italian style, which is evident in the words assembled on this disc from his early career. Paul Beier, a graduate of the Royal College of Music, London, is one of the most eminent lutenists working today. He has performed both as a soloist and in early music groups throughout Europe, Australia & North and South America, and is the founder and director of Galatea. Since 1981 he has taught lute, basso continuo and Renaissance ensemble at the Institute of Early Music in Milan.