Jerry Willard’s exciting fourth solo Lyrichord album, takes us to the world of Italian opera, as performed on a rare 19th century instrument. Several best loved themes from the operas of Rossini, Verdi, and Bellini are given a virtuoso treatment by guitarist Jerry Willard in rarely performed guitar arrangements by Mauro Giulani (1781-1829) and Johann Mertz (1806–1856). Mr. Willard plays an original instrument tuned to low pitch (A = 415) made by one of the greatest guitar makers of the early 19th century; Rene François Lacote in Paris. Willard displays some of his best playing yet in these elaborate and effective arrangements of some of the most memorable and gorgeous operatic works ever composed. Selections include Verdi/Mertz arrangements from “La Traviata”, “Rigoletto”, “Il Trovatore” and other Giulani and Mertz arrangements from Rossini and Bellini operas.