FRANK CLIFF A themed series of concerts has been a successful feature of Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music's programmes for several seasons.

FRANK CLIFF

A themed series of concerts has been a successful feature of Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music's programmes for several seasons.

This year's theme has been Czech music. There have been three concerts at the John Innes Centre given by the Janacek Quartet and a group of young English soloists – the last to a capacity audience yesterday afternoon when the quartet was joined by violinist Matthew Trusler and pianist Leon McCawley.

The Janacek Quartet began with a superb performance of Smetana's second quartet, which opened one's eyes to how marvellous this work can sound.

It was good to have the opportunity of hearing Janacek's violin sonata, performed by Trusler and McCawley.

Trusler is a violinist with an often-thrilling sound, although this was a little introspective and not helped by a somewhat overpowering accompaniment.

The balance was also not always perfect in Dvorak's piano quintet but McCawley's playing was scintillating and it was a joy to hear this glorious work performed by string players who have this music in their very bones.