See also: 25 Etudes op.60
Matteo Carcassi started his musical carreer on the ... piano, exchanging this instrument for the guitar as a child. He built a virtuoso reputation as a concert guitarist very quickly.
He went to Germany in 1810, gaining almost immediate recognition. In 1815, he was living in Paris, earning his living as a teacher of both the piano and the guitar. Germany was were he met his friend Antoine Meissonnier for the first time, on a concert tour in 1819. A famous guitarist too, Meissonnier was the one who published many of Carcassi's works in his Paris publishing house.
From 1820 on, with few interruptions, Carcassi resided in Paris for most of his time. In 1822, he performed in an extremely successful series of concerts in London that gained him great recognition, both as a performing artist and a teacher.
In Paris, it took Matteo Carcassi a long time to gain this recognition, since initially, Fernando Carulli was the hero of the concert public, with a strongly established reputation.
He moved to Germany again during fall 1824. After this, he went to London where his reputation gave him access to the great concert halls. Returning to Paris more definitively now, his reputation was on par with the older Carulli's.
About every year, he made concert trips to the most important culture temples of Europe, including London.
After a short return in 1836, he quit his concert practice around 1840 and died in Paris in 1853.
Carcassi wrote a method (op. 59) that is still considered very valuable. His most famous works are his 25 Etudes op.60. In these, he managed to blend technical skills and brilliant romantical music. Which is why he is still played by so many classical guitarists after all these years.
He also wrote several brilliant transcriptions of popular opera arias.
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