In his day, the 18th-century Italian composer Giovanni Battista Bononcini was an operatic force of nature. Composing no fewer than 25 operas, he was considered one of Handel’s rivals on the London scene. Today, however, Bononcini is largely forgotten, so this release is especially welcome. Away from the stage, Bononcini championed the modern cello with sonatas and sinfonias packed with soaring melodic lines and fizzing Baroque energy, all brilliantly displayed in the Sinfonia per violoncello in G Minor, recorded here for the first time. Equally spectacular is the music of Giovanni’s younger brother Antonio Maria, whose Sonata IV is a technical and dramatic tour de force. Cellist Marco Ceccato is a lively and vivacious performer who shines a light on this thrilling early cello repertoire.