His full name is Francisco Tostado y Carvajal. He played pieces by Fernando Sor, Ferdinand Carulli, and wrote his own music. He was the favorite student of Miguel Garcia - known as Padre Basilio who also taught Dionisio Aguado and Fernando Sor.
He played guitars fabricated by Manuel Perez and other unknown makers.
From the great resource of the Biblioteca Nacional de España we glean:
Diario mercantil de Valencia December 19, 1837, page 4
—Francisco Tostado has just arrived in this city, enroute to foreign lands. He is a distinguished guitar virtuoso—well-known in Spain's major theaters for his extraordinary execution, precision, and taste in composition, particularly in Seville, where he performed alongside Trinidad Huerta to great acclaim (as widely reported in that city's press) and has played before members of the Royal Family. He will give a concert at the theater, for which appropriate announcements will be posted.
El Guardia nacional (Barcelona) March 22, 1839 page 4
The celebrated and extraordinary guitar virtuoso Don Francisco Tostado has arrived in the capital from France. On this coming Sunday, the 24th, he will give a concert featuring the instrument at the home of Mr. Biosca, located at No. 14 Calle Santo Domingo del Call. Tickets will be sold at the shop of the guitar maker Francisco España for the price of 6 *reales de vellón*, and the performance will begin promptly at eight o'clock.
El Guardia nacional (Barcelona) April 17, 1839 page 4
Liceo
1.° The piece in one act "La Cuaretena".
2." The professor of guitar Francisco Tostado will have the honor to perform "Gran variations on a theme by Bellini" with the accompaniment by an orchestra.
3. Another piece in one act, "Don Benigno de Pancorbo".
4. Adagio sentimental solo to which he will follow a Fandango with variations by the indicated professor, with the left hand alone improvised imitating a mute and a bandolin. Held at 7:30 PM
Diario constitucional de Palma de Mallorca August 28, 1839 page 4
The renowned guitar professor Don Francisco Tostado has arrived in this city; a member of various philharmonic academies, he has performed before royalty and is well known in theaters across Spain and, more recently, France—where he has garnered the highest praise, as attested by the press in those countries. The professor will give a concert, details of which will be announced in due course.
Diario constitucional de Palma (1839) October 3, 1839 page 4
I AM RETURNING TO MADRID.
Immediately following, the guitar professor Don Francisco Tostado—grateful for the warm reception this kind audience accorded him during his debut—will perform a grand modulation sonata of his own composition, dedicated to his friend and fellow student Dionisio Aguado; he will play this as a solo. This will be followed by an Andalusian air known as the *zapateado*, which the professor will perform with guitar variations accompanied by the Quartet.
An INTERLUDE OF DANCE will follow.
The performance will conclude with brilliant variations on a theme from the "Waltz of Love," played as a guitar solo by Mr. Tostado, followed by an *allegro* section featuring variations on the "Hymn of Riego" accompanied by the instrumental ensemble, with the final variation played with the guitar held behind his back.—At 7:30 PM.
Diario constitucional de Palma (1839) October 6, 1839 page 4
THE ARTIST'S WIFE.
Next, a *terceto* from *Fausta* will be performed.
Immediately following, Professor Francisco Tostado will perform a moving *adagio* as a guitar solo, succeeded by brilliant and challenging variations on a theme by the immortal Bellini, accompanied by a quartet. Then, the *sainete* (short comic play) titled:
*The Innkeeper's Prank* will be presented.
The performance will conclude with a second appearance by Mr. Tostado, in which he will play the expressive *adagio* from *La Tambora*. This will be followed—at the request of several local gentlemen enthusiasts—by a *fandango*, featuring improvised variations and a section played using only the left hand, all performed as a guitar solo. At 7:30 PM.
Diario constitucional de Palma (1839) October 26, 1839 page 4
4. Don Francisco Tostado will perform—for the last time on the guitar—brilliant variations by Fernando Sors accompanied by the quartet, followed by an *allegro* known as the *Guaracha*, featuring modulations and played as a guitar solo.
5. The one-act piece titled *El Error de muchos viejos* [The Mistake of Many Old Men].
6. The aforementioned Mr. Tostado will play a symphony by Carulli as a guitar solo, followed by an *allegro* and a charming Andalusian air. —At 7:30.
El Diablo (Madrid) September 13, 1848 page 4
CADIZ.=The extraordinary guitar professor, D. Francisco Tostado, who has received so much praise in the principal theaters of Spain, France, and America, as is recorded in the public papers of said capitals, is in this city on his way to the court of Madrid.
El Espectador (Madrid. 1841)1October 1, 1848 page 4
ARRIVAL. The renowned guitarist Don Francisco Tostado has been residing in Seville for only a few days, and his departure for the theater is already being announced. It is to be expected that the inhabitants of Madrid will soon have the opportunity to admire his acknowledged skill.
La Correspondencia de España January 22, 1860 n.º 507 page 4
Masters of the guitar.—From the fourth volume of the *History of Spanish Music*—currently being published by Mariano Soriano Fuertes—we shall excerpt an interesting account regarding those who have most distinguished themselves in Spain in the art of playing the guitar, an instrument defined by Covarrubias as... so easy to play, especially...
All the great guitarists are mentioned in this article which is a snipet of Mariano Soriano Fuertes book "Historia déla música española". The item below is drawn from the article.
Don Francisco Tostado toured the entire peninsula, playing the guitar to great acclaim, and composed—among other pieces—a *fandango* with 53 variations.
Diario de Jerez (Jerez. 1984) November 20, 2016 page 52
en 1824. Otros músicos flamencos de la época en Nueva York son el guitarrista Francisco Tostado y el
Diario de Sevilla (Sevilla. 1999) November 20, 2016 page 55
Huerta en 1824. Otros músicos flamencos de la época en Nueva York son el guitarrista Francisco Tostado y
Europa sur20/11/2016página 58
1824. Otros músicos flamencos de la época en Nueva York son el guitarrista Francisco Tostado y el
It is known that Francisco Tostado was in Havana.
More on Monday. Randy Osborne