Rule reminder
Stylistic choices: 'sebbene' is the most common formal choice; 'benché' is slightly more literary; 'quantunque' is archaic/very formal; 'nonostante' + noun is concise and journalistic; 'pur' + gerundio is elegant and avoids a subjunctive clause.
«_____ grande sia stata la pressione internazionale, il regime non ha ceduto.» (foreign affairs editorial)