Verismo is a concert fantasy for solo guitar based on well-known themes from operas by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, and Rossini. Most people will recognise some of the melodies – some people might recognise most of the melodies. When Aniello Desiderio asked me to write a piece for him, we quickly agreed that it should reflect his love of Italian opera.

I have always enjoyed Mikhashoff’s piano transcriptions of Puccini, Giuliani’s Rossiniane for guitar, and the operatic arrangements and parap...