The story of the humble shepherd raised to his rightful place as king is a much-used one in 18th-century opera.

Like its shepherd king, Mozart’s Il re pastore is unassuming, but has intimations of future glory — a modest “serenata”, composed when he was 19, shot through with pre-echoes of masterpieces to come.

Ian Page conducts Classical Opera in a buoyant performance.

Sarah Fox, radiant in the lovely aria “L’amerò”, Ailish Tynan and Anna Devin are nicely contrasted as the three sopranos, John Mark Ainsley and Benjamin Hulett nimble and expressive as the two tenors.