Jacques Offenbach is undoubtedly best known for his operettas. Yet, being a virtuoso cellist from a young age, it was inevitable that the composer would write for this instrument. His cello duets were born out of the desire to create works that combine beauty, technical brilliance and a great sense of fun.

A vivid imagination comprises the suites that make up Cours méthodique de duos. The works contain much musical parody, containing references to mountain choruses and funeral processions, among others, and imitating -- with the cello -- the sounds of other orchestral instruments, such as the French horn. These works also show off Offenbach's sheer knowledge of music, with nods to the styles of Verdi and Paganini, and the compendium as a whole takes into account the technical growth of the performer without restricting the formal structure of the music.

Performing the works are acclaimed Italian cellists Andrea Noferini and Giovanni Sollima. Noferini originally studied with the great violinist Arthur Grumiaux, and his discographical successes include 'CD of the month' from Naxos; Sollima, also a composer by profession, received a 5-star review from Amadeus for his recording of Neapolitan Cello Concertos on the Glossa label.