In 1784, after eight years in Russia, Paisiello was at long last offered an appointment back in Naples, as court composer of dramatic music. On his way back home, Paisiello stopped off in Vienna, where he composed the opera 'Il re Teodoro a Venezia' for another great supporter of his, Emperor Joseph II. Donald introduces the overture from this popular work, an excerpt from 'I giuochi d'Agrigento', written for the inauguration of La Fenice Opera House in Venice, part of an opera to celebrate a major dynastic wedding - 'La Daunia felice', and, by way of stark contrast, the pared-down beauty of Paisiello's sacred work 'Christus', written for Holy Week in 1794. Show less