March 21, 2025 New Releases from Navona Records

PAS DE TROIS explores the possibilities of unique instrumental combinations for oboe, violin, viola, and piano within the intimacy of chamber music. The title work, Pas de Trois, is a playful yet challenging neo-romantic work featuring Ned Rorem’s lyrical melodies and a tonal language all his own, blending American boldness with French influence.

Award-winning choral ensemble Cantori New York presents FOUND AGAIN, a poignant exploration of human connection, self-growth, and collective pursuit of a better world. At once forward-looking and deeply introspective, this collection features three works espousing the power of transformative renewal.

Saxophonist Stephen Page returns to Navona Records with EARTHLY ROUND, a selection of chamber works that showcase the saxophone’s expressive versatility in its capacity to traverse diverse styles, emotions, and cultural influences.

The name for Bruce Stark’s album VIBRANT could not be more aptly chosen: if ever there was the acoustic equivalent of fireworks in solo piano music, this would be it. Interpreted to perfection by Indonesian pianist Isabella Jie, virtuosic sparks fly and rich colors blossom. An exhilarating experience.

DAWN, ALMOST DAWN, delves into themes of imagination and transcendence. The album could be considered an immersive journey through Toivo Tulev’s oeuvre, one not least afforded by its heterodox instrumentation, including solo violin with scordatura, ney, kaval, a symphonic orchestra, and the bare human voice.

Few things are as shrouded in mystery as the process behind the conception of an idea — partially because verbal explorations of cognition are seldom fruitful. But where words fail, music steps in to enlighten: and this is the aim of Kevin Bobo’s ORIGINS & EXPANSIONS, a philosophical reflection scored for wind ensemble and steelpan.

The music of J.S. Bach has transported humanity to the highest ecstasies from the moment their inspired phrases danced off the tip of his pen onto the page. On BACHannalia, a joyous celebration of the great maestro’s 340th birth anniversary, flutist Cleo Leung and pianist Serene Yu share Bach’s beloved flute works across all genres and an original medley of Bach favorites with a very special surprise at the end.