Giuseppe Cambini, born in Italy in 1746 and based for most of his life in Paris, left behind such a vast body of fine music–more than 600 compositions–that it is surprising the year and place of his death remain uncertain. Among that remarkable output are over 100 string quintets scored for two cellos rather than the more usual second viola, giving them an unusually rich sonority. Cambini’s elegant melodic style and spontaneous contrapuntal writing help explain why his chamber music was so popular during his lifetime–but not why it has since been forgotten. Its refreshingly natural style combines something of Mozart’s lyrical tunefulness with Haydn’s bright craftsmanship, while its more thoughtful moments occasionally look ahead to Beethoven.