Andrés Segovia - (1893 to 1987) Andres Segovia: In Portrait

Segovia is credited as being the man that changed classical guitar. He brought it to the forefront of classical music in the modern era. Classical guitar per se didn't really exist before him. It was considered a minor instrument and more suited to small venues and gypsy like music. He devoted his life to elevating the guitar as a classical instrument as deserving as the piano and violin.

Over the decades he worked with Luthiers to make dramatic improvements in the design of the guitar. In particular was his desire to make it louder so it could be played in larger settings.

This site has another, more in-depth article about Segovia including a list of CD's Andres Segovia

Check out the Wikikpedia article on Andres Segovia

Julian Bream (born 1933)

Bream has had a long career as a classical guitarist. He began playing guitar at the age of 5 and by the age of 12 he was considered a child prodigy. He has advanced the classical guitar in a respect that few ever have done -Through the media of radio and television.

The DVD video profile Julian Bream: My Life In Music, released in 2003, contains three hours of interview and performance. It is considered by some to be the finest film contribution ever to the classic guitar."

Another extremely important work to the world of classical guitar is Bream's video Guitarra! A Musical Journey Through Spain

Product Description from amazon.com
This musical journey through Spain with Julian Bream traces the evolution of the Spanish guitar from 1500 to the present. Bream tours and performs in some of Spain's most magnificent locations including Seville, Toledo, Madrid and Barcelona. This is the most complete video ever produced on the history of the Spanish guitar. Includes a bonus performance of Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez."

Check out the Wikipedia Article to learn more about Julian Bream