This New Music Friday, Navona Records presents a variety of contemporary classical expressions, from grand choral and orchestral statements to intimate chamber music settings and more.
Dive in and discover new music from Michael Cohen, Alex Klein, Rita Costanzi, Trio Casals, Anthony Wilson, Michael Roush, Margaret Brandman, Octavian Nemescu, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Robert Ziegler, Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Jiří Petrdlík, Brno Contemporary Orchestra, Pavel Šnajdr, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Vavřínek, Mari Tamaki, Sirius Quartet, Wanchi Huang, Meira Warshauer, Judith Shatin, Peter Dickson Lopez, Anna Kislitsyna, Angelique Poteat, University of South Dakota Chamber Singers, and David Holdhusen.
ARIA
Michael Cohen
Composer Michael Cohen delivers an enticing follow up to his 2022 Navona Records release with ARIA, his second full album of original chamber works. Featuring a mix of studio and live recordings captured from various points in his diverse and expansive career, Cohen’s music emanates a thorough line of vitality and fervor.
SYMPHONIC CHRONICLES VOL II
Anthony Wilson, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Michael Roush, Margaret Brandman, Octavian Nemescu
Hailed by critics as a “descriptive and evocative” collection of contemporary classical music, the SYMPHONIC CHRONICLES series returns with a brand new roster of celebrated composers from a wide variety of backgrounds and influences, whose works receive resounding performances by today’s leading orchestral ensembles in this Navona Records release.
RETROGRADE
Mari Tamaki, Sirius Quaret
RETROGRADE by Sirius Quartet is a collection of innovative string works from Mari Tamaki. Tamaki, a Japanese cellist, composer, performer, and producer, conjures up drama through intense dissonances and delicate tonal harmonies throughout. The result is elegant and dynamic, drawing on Tamaki’s classical, improvisational, and avant-garde influences.
IMAGINING WORLDS
Wanchi Huang
Praised for her “incisive technique and an exceptionally rich and beautiful tone,” violinist Wanchi Huang performs a fascinating group of compositions written by a beautifully curated selection of noted composers on IMAGINING WORLDS, a stunning showcase of Huang’s artistry and the compelling voices in contemporary American music.
PIECES FROM A DISTANT LAND
Peter Dickson Lopez
Peter Dickson Lopez’s PIECES FROM A DISTANT LAND is a touching and emotionally prolific work given a loving performance by Anna Kislitsyna. Those with an ear for the sonically experimental will instantly recognize Lopez’s salient touches while being treated to an especially graceful and compassionate tribute to the happy, hazy days of childhood, and the warm music that so often accompanies them.
SIX SEASONS
Angelique Poteat
Composer and clarinetist Angelique Poteat demonstrates the dynamic emotive range of her instrument through original chamber music on SIX SEASONS. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Poteat’s music reflects the natural beauty of her home and has been described as “engaging, restless” by The New York Times and “extremely accomplished and vividly picturesque” by The Seattle Times.
OUT OF ASHES
David Holdhusen, University of South Dakota Chamber Singers
The highly lauded and honored USD Chamber Singers bear a message of resilience with their newest release OUT OF THE ASHES, a collection of beloved choral works given a refreshing new voice. The Chamber Singers have given a new life to treasured gems of the choral repertoire and portray a bright future for artists and listeners alike.
