Among all opera composers, Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) was perhaps the most prolific when it comes to chamber music. He composed sixteen string quartets, countless pages for piano (solo and four-hands), and several fantasia-style pieces for solo instrument and piano.

The autograph of the Largo for cello and piano survived to this day thanks to virtuoso cellist Alfredo Piatti (1822—1901), in whose collection it safely rested until it could be unearthed once more.

Crafted with meticulous a...