Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901) was a German romantic composer of mainly works for the organ, his own instrument. He was one of the leading figures in the “Cecilian Movement” which, in a world of increasing secularization, propagated the return to religious values of the past, expressing itself in a renewed interest in Gothic architecture and polyphony. Rheinberger’s organ works are a happy blend of the Romantic spirit of his time and a healthy dose of polyphony and counterpoint, in this he was a worthy successor of Felix Mendelssohn. On this newly recorded album, his popular 4th Organ Sonata, Ten Trios Op. 49 and the beautiful “12 Character Pieces” Op. 156 are all included. Italian organist Carlo Guandalino plays the organ in San Michelle delle Badese, a magnificent organ inspired by the romantic and symphonic German organ building, with 30 registers and 1885 pipes.