Pavel Steidl, began his career as a professional musician after winning first prize at the 1982 International Guitar Competition of Radio France in Paris. Since then, he has become one of the most widely celebrated soloists of his generation.

"Here was a guitarist who knew how to laugh with the music and share the joke with his audience. But behind the entertainer lies a serious artist, whose extended composition in memory of Jana Obrovska proved fully capable of stirring emotions at the other end of the scale. Never was a standing ovation more richly deserved. Pavel Steidl had won the hearts and minds of a capacity crowd." (Classical Guitar Magazine)

He has studied with such guitarist as Milan Zelenka and Stepan Rak in Prague. In 1987 he decided to immigrate to the Netherlands where after years of studying and getting inspiration from many different artists he has created his own style, which is not ignoring authentic way of interpretation 19th-century guitar literature on periodic instruments and going far to some world music elements. Pavel Steidl also composes himself and his own compositions are often played on his concerts. He has performed in more than 40 countries of the world including Canada, USA, China, India, Japan, and countries in Europe, South and Central America and many others. Pavel Steidl plays many instruments, but mainly Francisco Simplicio (1926) and Franz Butcher (2008), romantic guitar: copies of J.G.Stauffer guitar made by B.Kresse and original instrument from the beginning of the 19th century Nikolaus G.Ries ca. 1830.

A collection of works by Mertz performed by the renowned guitarist Pavel Steidl who continues his series of great guitar works played on the authentic instruments of their time. This CD features a guitar made by Nikolaus G. Reis in Vienna ca.1830.