This original concept CD presents one of the most popular opera arias in early 19th century Vienna, “Nel cor più non mi sento”, from Paisiello’s opera L’amor contrastato, as the basis of variation works by a variety of composers: Bortolazzi, Hummel, Giuliani, Wanhal and Beethoven. The aria, in its powerful simplicity, lends itself very well for the variation form and it was gratefully used as a means of instrumental display of brilliance and invention. The basic instrumental ensemble used on this recording is mandolin, guitar and fortepiano, fashionable instruments at that time. The musicians play on historic instruments: Alon Sariel plays a 1850 mandolin, Izhar Elias plays a 1812 Guadagnini guitar and the Bohm 1820 fortepiano is played by Michael Tsalka. The excellent liner notes are written by the musicians.