This is the earlier and fresher of two recordings of Mozart flute quartets by Jean-Pierre Rampal. In recent years, some of Rampal's performances and recordings have been so routine that they've obscured our memory of just how fine a player he was. This obviously was a fun session for the all-star ensemble that gathered to make the recording, with Alexander Schneider (from the great Budapest Quartet) making a rare appearance as violist. While you can't tell from the music that Mozart supposedly disliked the flute, none of these pieces is anywhere near his most profound. But they are Mozart and they are very well performed. --Leslie Gerber