John Williams Essentials

The Australian-born British guitarist has not only championed his instrument and its repertoire, but he has been a major force in persuading modern composers to write for it. Along with Julian Bream he pioneered the classical guitar in the 1960s, and his phenomenally precise, technically accurate yet stylish playing won him a huge following. He has recorded extensively and continues to promote music by living composers, often where styles and languages fuse. His open-minded attitude has taken him into different genres, and this playlist is a fine entry point to his oeuvre.