Born in Lisbon of an Italian father, João Domingos Bomtempo spent much of his career in Paris and London, developing a brilliant career as pianist, composer and teacher. Though he was an almost exact contemporary of Beethoven (born in 1771 according to the documentation here, 1775 according to Grove), it’s more particularly Haydn and Mozart we hear in the shorter First Symphony (1809). The music is bright, clear and inventive, with a third movement that develops along the lines of a set of variations prominently featuring wind instruments.

The Second Symphony, which Cassuto has recorded previously for CD, is on an altogether larger scale and is much more obviously influenced by Beethoven – notably in an opening movement which, at 16 minutes, is of Eroica dimensions, and also in the dignified third-movement minuet. Most strikingly inventive of all, though, are the second and fourth movements, the former with rhythmic instrumental interchanges that give way to a gentle section graced by a lyrical string melody.

This Second Symphony especially is well worth hearing, and altogether the music is given a compelling treatment by the recently founded but highly proficient Algarve Orchestra. Bomtempo’s clear, confident instrumental lines are also greatly aided by the warm, bright acoustic of the hall of the University of the Algarve. Much of Bomtempo’s music, including both these symphonies, is already on CD, but on labels less readily available than Naxos. At budget price this issue should help give it the wider currency it clearly deserves.