Discography
Ilumina: New Works for Guitar (2026)
Prima Classic • Upcoming Release: August 28, 2026
With Ilumina, An Tran presents a bold and deeply personal statement for the future of the classical guitar, bringing together twelve world premiere works written especially for him by an international group of composers. Conceived as both an artistic and collaborative project, the album reflects Tran’s commitment to shaping new repertoire at the highest level, positioning the guitar firmly within today’s global musical landscape. The program moves fluidly between intimate lyricism and rhythmic vitality, from the poetic warmth of Bella di Papà and the nostalgic tenderness of Ana-Lucia, to the driving energy and folkloric inspiration of Toccata on “Lý Kéo Chài”.
At the center of Ilumina is a sense of storytelling and human connection, with each work offering a distinct voice while contributing to a cohesive, expressive arc. Tran’s refined virtuosity, sensitivity to color, and natural sense of phrasing bring these new works vividly to life, revealing a wide spectrum of textures and emotions. More than a collection of premieres, Ilumina stands as a defining artistic statement, highlighting both the richness of today’s compositional voices and the evolving role of the classical guitar in the 21st century.
Napoléon Coste: Guitar Works, Vol. 6 (2023)
Naxos Records • Release: June 23, 2023
The publication of a facsimile edition of Napoléon Coste’s complete works in the 1980s brought the composer-guitarist’s name before the public after decades of neglect. A student of Sor, he was the most eminent French guitarist of the 19th century and a creative innovator. Fantaisie symphonique shows the range of his ambition with its quasi-orchestral textures, swift mood changes and virtuoso flourishes. Le Départ is one his most popular extended pieces, full of liquid transitions. The other works demonstrate the variety of his art – the multitude of techniques employed, his mastery of texture and attractive intricacy.
Stay, My Beloved: Vietnamese Guitar Music (2020)
Frameworks Records • Release: April 18, 2020
Encompassing the rich and spiritual music of Vietnam, this captivating album is brilliantly performed by “Vietnamese guitar virtuoso”, An Tran. Stay, My Beloved, engages and elevates the auditory experience through its arrangements of traditional folk songs to its modern compositions. An Tran‘s virtuosic technical ability can be heard throughout the recording alongside his beautiful and melodic phrasing. One can imagine the landscapes of Vietnam through the musical paintings in this album, as in Central Highlands of Vietnam. Listeners can also hear An’s personal stories from the composition his parents used to sing to him (Stay, My Beloved and Drifting Duckweeds, Floating Clouds). This album also features the world premiere recording of Ru Con, a lullaby written by The-An Nguyen and dedicated to An Tran for his Toronto Debut at the Guitar Society of Toronto in 2019.