1835 Pierre René Lacote

The renowned nineteenth-century luthier Pierre René Lacote apprenticed under Pons in Paris. In or around 1820 (in his early 30s) he opened his own workshop on Rue Montmartre near the Paris Conservatory. Lacote spent the next three decades crafting fine guitars for the leading virtuosos of his day including Ferdinando Carulli, Matteo Carcassi, Fernando Sor, […]

1835 Gaetano Vinaccia

During the Spring of 1862, the French composer Charles Gounod was on holiday in Northern Italy when on the evening of April 24th, he wandered alone by the picturesque shores of Lake Nemi. He was attracted by the sound of gentle music floating in the air off in the distance, and looking in the direction […]