A composer overdid the central section (5)
I believe the answer is:
verdi
'a composer' is the definition.
(Giuseppe Verdi 1813-1901)
'overdid the central section' is the wordplay.
'section' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'VERDI' is hidden in the letters of 'overdid central'.
(Other definitions for verdi that I've seen before include "Diver became a strange composer" , "Giuseppe -----, 1813-1901, prolific opera composer" , "Italian opera composer" , "Italian composer (Aida)" , "Drive around to locate opera composer" .)