Strings dominated the Friday concert in the ongoing Seattle Chamber Music Society's Lakeside Festival, where a succession of new players has created a great deal of excitement among concertgoers.

The evening got off to a most promising start with a seldom-heard Shostakovich Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Minor (Op. 8). Composed by Shostakovich at 17, this trio usually takes a back seat to the more mature Op. 67 piano trio.

The three musicians (violinist Stephen Rose, cellist Amit Peled and pianist Jeremy Denk) made a strong case for the early trio, however, with an air of passionate commitment throughout. Rose and Peled clearly had worked out all the details of interpretation, which was remarkably well-coordinated.

Peled, an Israeli-born artist who joined the Peabody Conservatory faculty in 2003 to become one of the youngest cello professors in the U.S., made a particularly strong impression with beautiful, soulful playing of remarkable strength.

Rose, principal second violin of the Cleveland Orchestra, was clearly on the same page with Peled, and Denk made highly focused, polished contributions at the keyboard.

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers gave a stunning account of the tricky Janácek Violin Sonata with pianist Adam Neiman. It's not an easy sonata with which to make an impression, with its short, agitated phrases and its lack of big bravura passages.

Meyers' confident, aggressive playing, her smooth bow arm and her big-hearted tone commanded attention; Neiman was a full partner at the piano, making the most of Janácek's questing phrases.

Review


The Seattle Chamber Music Society's Summer Festival at the Lakeside School, Friday night (concerts continue tonight, Wednesday and Friday; 206-283-8808).

Another violinist with a brilliant tone, Tasmin Little, gave a strong lead to five other players in the concluding Brahms String Sextet (Op. 18). The ensemble standouts included impassioned playing from violist Geraldine Walther in particular, as well as Rose, violist Maurycy Banaszek, and cellists Toby Saks and Ronald Thomas. Intonation was occasionally a problem; tonal beauty and musicality were not.

It's hard to believe, but this is already the last week of the Lakeside Festival — with artists such as Reiko Aizawa and Lydia Artymiw (both pianists) joining the roster, along with popular flutist Lorna McGhee and Seattle Symphony cellist Amos Yang.

There's more, though. Next month the festival expands to the Eastside with its new Festival at the Overlake School, in Redmond. Arts watchers will be keeping a close eye on this daring new venture, which already has the ticket phone lines hopping.