Interesting concert at the small hall of the local philharmonic ($6). Postwar western-Balkan ensemble, mostly new-music, but mixed in with some of the romantic repertory. The latter actually seemed to be their strength, interpretive freedom, sweeping emotion, wobbly pitch at times from the low strings (which I've noticed everywhere in the Balkans -- perhaps they hear the instruments differently). The paradox is that the type of musician who would be very strong in the romantic repertory, for these same reasons, is conceptually drawn to new music.
The (excellent) hall is very crisp and bright -- with the romantic swooshiness (in the best Rortyan sense) of the pieces, it was a bit like watching a melodrama on a kabuki stage. Every fricative rasp of the strings as clear as daylight. Very interesting.