Recorded in October 2006 while concertmaster and conductor Sigiswald Kuijken and
La Petite Bande were in the midst of recording a liturgical year's worth of Lutheran church cantatas by
Bach, this disc of two youthful Cassations and a Divertimento by
Mozart shows the width of Kuijken's repertoire, the breadth of his sympathies, and the depth of his humanity. With a bright tone, buoyant tempos, piquant intonation, effortless ensemble, and relaxed virtuosity, the 12 musicians of
La Petite Bande play together with exactly the kind of elegant brilliance and elevated intelligence the music requires. Under Kuijken's hands, these works, composed by the teenage
Mozart, sound fresh, witty, tender, and altogether endearing. As delightful an addition to any
Mozart shelf as it would be a welcome relief from the spiritual rigors of
Bach's cantatas, this disc will please just about every classical enthusiast, especially in Accent's clear, deep 2006 digital sound.