James Akers & Gary Branch: Le Salon Romantique – Music for guitar and fortepiano by Ferdinando & Gustavo Carulli

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW FOR RELEASE ON 22nd OCTOBER 2026

Le Salon Romantique brings together two expert historically-informed musicians, James Akers and Gary Branch, to explore key works by Neapolitan composer Ferdinando Carulli, and his son Gustavo Carulli.

Ferdinando Carulli was the pre-eminent guitarist and guitar composer of the early nineteenth century, advancing technique for the instrument just as Paganini had for the violin. Although hailing from Naples it was in the salons of Paris, in the first decades of the 19th century, that Carulli found his milieu. In pieces like the Gran Duo ConcertantOp.65 and Grand Duo Op. 86, both presented on this album, he explored a distinctive aesthetic that blends the elegant, sophisticated and tuneful with dark, dramatic and turbulent elements.

James Akers and Gary Branch recorded these works exclusively on original instruments perfectly suited to the period – exquisitely preserved nineteenth century guitars and the magnificent 1826 Conrad Graf fortepiano from The Richard Burnett Collection in Tunbridge Wells, UK, where the album was recorded.

In addition, James Akers performs the mercurial, charming Caprice Pour la Guitar Op. 94, blending Tyrolean and Hungarian folk melodies. The Graf piano is heard alone in a Quadrille by Ferdinando Carulli’s son Gustavo, using themes from the (decidedly bloodthirsty) opera Semiramide by Rossini.

Outside the classical guitar world music by Ferdinando Carulli is still not well known. Le Salon Romantique invites the listener into his intriguing and fascinating musical world, every bit as rewarding as many of his illustrious contemporaries.

Track-listing

Ferdinando Carulli
Grand Duo Concertant in A major Op. 65 20:45
1 Moderato 10:18
2 Adagio 3:12
3 Allegretto 7:15

Ferdinando Carulli
4 Caprice Pour la Guitare Op. 94 sur les Airs de la Tyrolienne et de la Hongroise 13:45

Gustavo Carulli
Quadrille sur les motifs de l’opéra La Semiramide,
musique de G. Rossini, arrangée pour le Piano-Forte 6:51
5 L’Assur (Pantalon) 1:21
6 L’Arsace (Été) 1:02
7 La Semiramide (Poule) 1:36
8 L’Idreno (Pastourelle) 1:26
9 L’Oroe (Finale) 1:26

Ferdinando Carulli
Grand Duo in E minor Op. 86 17:26
10 Allegro 7:34
11 Largo 4:41
12 Allegro 5:11

Total running time: 58m 49s

Recorded 20th-22nd October 2025 at The Richard Burnett Collection, Tunbridge Wells, UK
Producer & sound recordist: Robin Bigwood
Liner notes by Declan Hickey