Presti and Lagoya, still considered by many to be the greatest classical guitar duo in the history of the instrument, also enriched the repertoire beyond measure with their masterly arrangements and transcriptions for two guitars of music by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Haydn, Granados, Debussy and Falla, to name but a few. Perhaps less known to the general listening public is that Ida Presti, who met Alexandre Lagoya in 1951 and partnered him in both music and life until her untimely death in 1967, was an improviser and composer of genius. The proof is in the 12 works for guitar duet recorded here, many for the first time.

Oliver Chassain, himself a composer, and Stein-Erik Olsen are both former students of Lagoya’s; in addition, they play on the Robert Bouchet guitars once owned by their illustrious predecessors. So there’s a certain authenticity here, which is only enhanced by the players’ own considerable virtuosity and musicianship.

But the music’s the thing: here are wonderful, original evocations of Spain (Espagne and Danse gitane – which latter no doubt also recalls the many evenings Presti spent jamming with Django Reinhardt) and Hungary (La hongroise), expressions of love (Sérénade, the first work Presti dedicated to Lagoya, and Berceuse à ma mère, written just a month after the death of Presti’s mother) or even a simple delight in one’s own dexterity (Etude No 1). Appropriately, this excellent release ends with the multifaceted Etude fantasque of 1966, which is apparently, according to those who were closest to Presti, the best musical portrait of her.