REVIEW

One of the nice things about the venerable Friends of Chamber Music series is the approach to programming that allows musicians of different stripes to gather on the same stage.

Such was the case on Wednesday in Gates Concert Hall, when the youthful, energetic Miro Quartet shared the bill with the youthful, energetic Israeli pianist Shai Wosner.

Cleverly, these five superb players made the most of this mix-and-match lineup by offering a diverse all-Janacek first half and a post-intermission collaboration in Brahms' mighty Piano Quintet.

It made for more than a pleasant potpourri of sounds. In the Janacek pairing, the musicians presented a glimpse into the dramatic evolution that characterized the Czech composer's compositional life.

As the quartet's viola player, John Largess, explained, the opening solo piano piece, In the Mist, dates from the composer's early days as a diehard romanticist. Following that with his String Quartet, Intimate Letters (written in 1928, during the last months of his life) showed how he'd entered the 20th century yet retained the voice that was Janacek's alone.

The similarities and differences were fascinating to absorb, but more important was the sheer brilliance of the music - and the equally wonderful playing of Wosner and the Miro.

In the Mist is marked by almost violent mood swings, shifts in tempo and dynamics that demand superb control, sensitivity and pacing. Wosner skillfully made musical sense of these quirky solo pieces, which seemed to suggest a mysterious story.

The String Quartet, on the other hand, has a well-known storyline, as Largess explained. He detailed the covert love affair that tormented Janacek's later life and is revealed in the music.

Here are charming dance episodes, intentionally ugly passages suggesting emotional frustration and a remarkable, unfolding drama.

Each twist and turn was handled nimbly by the Miro - Largess, violinists Daniel Ching and Sandy Yamamoto and cellist Joshua Gindele.

In the concluding Brahms Quintet, the ensemble rose to the challenge of making five instruments sound like a full-size orchestra. Here is music that churns and sighs and explodes and sings with unstoppable energy and unequaled bravura.

It is great fun to watch (and, we imagine, great fun to play), coming as close to rock 'n' roll as anything in chamber music. Here, the youthful musicians cranked it up, much to the delight of their audience.

Miro Quartet

* Grade: A-

* When and where: Wednesday at Gates Concert Hall

* Of Note: The ensemble appeared with pianist Shai Wosner in a Friends of Chamber Music concert.