The title
Young & Foolish
is only obliquely descriptive of the contents of this 2024 release, which made classical best-seller charts in the summer of 2024. It is not that both composers were young and foolish when these works were composed; indeed, the two pieces by
C.P.E. Bach
come from the later part of his career. Instead, say the annotators from the ensemble
Café Zimmermann
, "One can readily imagine them, the young man and the old, crafting the history of music and of art, this quintessentially human activity, with the enthusiasm of reckless youth: young & foolish." A better title possibly could have been arrived at, but there is indeed a delightful recklessness about the music here, even the well-known
Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453
, of
Mozart
, which is given an intentionally choppy and quite intriguing performance by fortepianist
Alexander Melnikov
. The highlight is probably the
Concerto for harpsichord and fortepiano in E flat major
of
C.P.E.
, composed in 1788. That work is likely unique, for the transition from harpsichord to piano happened quickly when it got going, and only in the 1780s were both instruments really current. It is a fascinating work, a study in textures that
handles in a dozen different ways. Throughout,
, of which harpsichordist
Céline Frisch
was a co-founder, responds with supple accuracy to the frequently unexpected solo playing here. This is 18th century playing at a very high level, giving the lie to the contention that Baroque-oriented groups fail when it comes to music of the Classical period. An excellent release that reminds one how much rich material by
remains to be exposed. ~ James Manheim