Cantabile is one of a number of pieces that Adriano Cirillo wrote for his great friend the flautist Gabriele Betti, who died on 4 September 2020, one week before they were due to give the first performance. Betti’s playing was always of the highest order and refinement, and the tips on flute technique and performance that he passed on ensured that Adriano was able to achieve the best possible results in his compositions for the instrument.