The Moscow Chamber Orchestra isn't what it used to be.

Classical

The Moscow Chamber Orchestra, in name anyway, gave the Carmel Music Society a popular and generous program Monday night. But this was not the Moscow Chamber Orchestra of Rudolf Barshai''s original vision in the 1950s. In those days, Barshai''s band became legendary for their highly detailed disciplines and their commitment to new music. (Barshai started the tradition of writing chamber orchestra arrangements of Shostakovich string quartets, calling them by the name "sinfonia.")

Today''s MCO has softer disciplines (witness the lack of sharp focus in the first violins), less articulate bite, and, under its music director Constantine Orbelian, a decided turn toward the popular. (The orchestra''s latest CDs on Delos include collections of Shostakovich waltzes and popular Russian encores.)

For their Carmel appearance, Orbelian''s ensemble opened with Elgar''s Serenade for Strings, then proceeded through five distinctively syncopated Armenian folksongs arranged from originals by Komitas. The last sounded suspiciously like Shostakovich.

Mozart disclosed startling insights with his Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat, K271, enlarging the form considerably and committing the slow movement to the minor tonality (C Minor, to be exact) which was then and remains extremely rare in concerto form. Soloist Justin Blasdale skittered through the work unevenly, giving the impression that the action of the Society''s Steinway needed some serious adjustments.

By the second half, the violins had found a more reliable ensemble voice for the charming Holberg Suite by Grieg. Then charm took a risky turn as Orbelian lowered the stage lighting to bedtime levels for Haydn''s Symphony in F sharp Minor "Farewell", leaving only tiny candles to illuminate the music stands. Luckily, the musicians played with confidence and authority. The darkened effect, of course, focused on the closing pages of the last movement where the composer famously reduced the parts and extinguished the candles, in pairs mostly, until only two violins and one point of light remained on stage.

The January 26 concert by the Eroica Trio concert, which was cancelled due to an East Coast snow storm, has been rescheduled for Mother''s Day, May 14. Amy Anderson of the sponsoring Chamber Music Monterey Bay told us her organization is extremely pleased that the Eroica were able to reschedule during the current season, and asks patrons to use their original tickets for the May 14 matinee. The concert was nearly a sellout, according to Anderson.

Classical Calendar

Altenberg Piano Trio Friday, 8pm. Mozart Society hosts program of Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street & 9th Avenue, Carmel. $15. 625-3637.

Valentine Cabaret Saturday/Sunday/Monday, 8pm. Carmel Bach Festival hosts soprano Rosa Lamoreaux, pianist Dan Lockert in program of Gershwin, Porter. Polo Club, The Barnyard, Carmel Rancho Lane, Carmel. Ticket prices/information, 624-2046.

Chamber Music at Colton Hall Wednesday, 8pm. Piano and violin Duo Concertante perform Schubert, Beethoven, Kreisler, Franck. Colton Hall, Pacific Street, Monterey. $5 donation, reservations required. 646-5640.

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