Spanish guitarist and composer, Fernando Sor is credited with elevating the guitar from the tavern to the concert hall. He lived during a convulsive period of Spanish history, coinciding with the French invasion, the War of Independence and the reign of Fernando VII. After fighting against the French, Sor came to sympathize with many of the rationalist ideals of the Enlightenment and in 1813 left Spain in exile. He lived in France and England and enjoyed success in Russia. British guitarist Julian Bream has compared Sor to Mozart and described his style as "beautiful understatement." Today's program features performances of several of Sor's outstanding pieces for guitar. As one music critic has said, "the world of classical guitar owes much to Fernando Sor."
