Throughout his 30-year career as principal flautist of the opera orchestra of La Scala, Milan, Rabboni came in close contact with opera repertoire and singers of the time, and thereby gained a priviliged insight into the bel canto style. It is clear that Rabboni composed his Sonatas to explore different sonorities and phrasings, as well as to establish a better overall technique for the flute. Although at first they appear to be straightforward, these sonatas encourage the flautist to look beyond merely playing the notes, and to strive towards creating shapes and lines within the music, an approach which is often disregarded in favour of developing technique.