The Ukrainian Dmitri Bortniansky (1751-1825) received lessons at the local singing school in his hometown of Hlukhiv, and soon his extraordinary talent was recognised. He was somewhat of a child prodigy, writing his first opera at a young age. Following his studies Bortniansky was appointed court composer and Kapellmeister of the Imperial Chapel Choir. In the period that followed, he wrote - in addition to a number of operas, instrumental works, and a cycle of songs - more than a hundred relig...