Mozart Cassations G, "Final-Musik", K63; B flat, K99/K63a, D; K100/K62a Salzburg Chamber Orchestra / Harald Nerat.

Naxos (Super budget price) (CD) 550609 (67 minutes: DDD)

You only have to look at the Kochel numbers to see that these pieces represent very youthful Mozart: indeed, they date from the summer of 1769, when he was just 13. However, unlike some early music by this most precociously gifted of composers, it is much more than impressively fluent, and to recognize this you need only listen to the Allegro second movement of the Cassation in G major, which has buoyant invention and attractive textures m which a pair of horns feature prominently. It is followed by something no less enjoyable, namely a little Andante of charm in which a pizzicato accompaniment deliciously complements a graceful and witty melody.

My praise for this music is matched by admiration for the performance by the Salzburg Chamber Orchestra under Harald Nerat (a viola-player and a member of the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra) which is every bit as idiomatic as one might hope for in this recording made in Salzburg, where the music was composed. It has poise, vitality and affection, and seems to me to be altogether finely judged. The solo violin playing of Georg Holscher in the Adagio fifth movement of K63 is stylish, too.

The other two works are also good value, and although K99 is less striking than K63, K100 is a splendidly vivid piece. Here we have trumpets and flutes as well as the oboes, horns and strings of the other cassations, and there are attractive oboe and horn solos. To add to these desirable things the recording is a fine one with a quality of bloom on the string sound that puts some full-price discs to shame. In sum, this is an excellent issue and at super-bargain price, highly recommendable.

CH