Volume 3 of the complete Rossini symphonic overtures continues the pattern of placing rarities, such as the lively student work Grand’overtura ‘obbligata a contrabasso’, and Matilde of Shabran, set in medieval Spain, alongside perennial hits such as The Italian Girl in Algiers and La Cenerentola (Cinderella), said to have been written in just three weeks.

International Record Review described Volume 2 of this series as having ‘excellent performances’.

Christian Benda is descended from a long line of musicians. He is chief conductor and artistic director of the Prague Sinfonia Orchestra with which he has recorded numerous standard classical works, as well as the complete overtures of Schubert and Rossini.