November 20, 2020 New Releases from Navona and Big Round Records

This week we are proud to bring you a slate of six albums from Navona and Big Round Records including a vibrant performance of one of Richard Wagner’s innovative works, intricacies of 20th- and 21st-century piano composition, and a careful selection of piano music, composed by ear, memory and touch without sheet music.

Dive in and discover new music from: Elaine Freeman, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Society of Composers, Inc., Michael G. Cunningham, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Yoko Hirota, and Malta Philharmonic Orchestra

Composer and songwriter Elaine Freeman and Big Round Records present LA SPERANZA, a careful selection of piano music, composed by ear, memory and touch without sheet music. Not quite classical, not quite pop, these pieces have the ability to appeal to both the casual listener and fans of musical minimalism.

The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra stuns with a new recording of Richard Wagner’s three-act opera TRISTAN AND ISOLDE. Skillfully conducted by German conductor Robert Reimer, this new, vibrant performance is likely to claim its place as one of the reference recordings of Wagner’s innovative work.

The Society of Composers, Inc. continues its decades-long mission to promote and disseminate contemporary music on DRIFT, the 34th installment of the SCI Composers’ Series. DRIFT marks the 10th album in the series to release on Navona Records, and SCI continues to curate new works by luminaries that span generations.

Michael G. Cunningham and Navona Records present PROSCENIUM MOMENTS, a highly challenging collection of Cunningham’s orchestral compositions. Nestled in style between early Prokofiev and late Shostakovich, this particular selection of recordings provides a bird’s eye view of Cunningham’s catalogue.

Japanese-Canadian pianist Yoko Hirota stuns with impeccable pianism on SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL: MINIATURE PIANO PIECES. Originally recorded in 2009, this remastered edition brings out the intricacies of 20th- and 21st-century piano composition with a clarity that was previously unheard of.

Conductor Sergey Smbatyan leads the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra on their new album CONTEMPORARY COLOURS. Featuring music exclusively by Maltese composers, the album combines full orchestration with pre-recorded elements, traditional instruments, and contemporary sounds to bring the pieces to life.