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Chamber
NOT A SEVENTH BUT A FIRST AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Chamber
SHAW'S MICROFICTIONS HIGHLIGHTS MIRO QUARTET'S SEBASTOPOL CONCERT
by Peter Lert
Friday, March 1, 2024
Chamber
FRY ST. SQ PLAYS A DEMANDING 222 GALLERY CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Friday, March 1, 2024
Chamber
SPIRITUAL CHAMBER MUSIC MARIN TRIO CONCERT
by Abby Wasserman
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Chamber
SPIRITUAL STRING MUSIC IN BLACK OAK ENSEMBLE'S MARIN CONCERT
by Abby Wasserman
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Chamber
VIRTUOSIC HARP RECITAL AT SPRING LAKE VILLAGE SERIES
by Terry McNeill
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Chamber
EMOTIONAL BLOCH PIECE HIGHLIGHTS PELED'S RAC RECITAL
by Peter Lert
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Chamber
OYSTER TRIO AT THE ROSE SIGNATURE SERIES
by Terry McNeill
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Chamber
CANTABILE CHARMS IN MIXED 222 GALLERY CONCERT
by Terry McNeill
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Chamber
BACH'S SIX IN WEILL HALL LINCOLN CHAMBER CONCERT
by Dan Solter
Friday, December 8, 2023
CHAMBER REVIEW

Trio Navarro

ACOUSTIC CLARITY AT LAST

by Terry McNeill
Sunday, August 24, 2014

After years of chamber music frustration in Sonoma State University's Ives and Weill halls, the Trio Navarro basked in acoustical clarity Aug. 24 at their debut concert in the university's new Schroeder Hall.

The acoustics in Weill before small audiences, and with lush romantic chamber music, made blurred legato piano lines the norm. In Sunday's performance of Taneyev's D Major Trio, Op. 22, all was heard clearly. Pianist Marilyn Thompson joined cellist Jill Brindel and violinist Victor Romasevich in a rewarding performance of this rarely played Russian work from 1908.

The Taneyev is not easily grasped, as it lacks the thematic unity of more popular piano trios. However, the Navarro gave it a passionate reading with emphasis on the long vocal lines and warm colors. Mr. Romasevich gave his usual intense sound to the elegant theme and variations, and the constantly surging phrases led to an exciting short and fast opening movement cadenza.

Rich music for the cello characterized the Andante. Ms. Brindel played with refinement in rubato and supplied tasteful small decrescendos. Another violin cadenza led directly to the finale where there were hints of Arensky's second piano trio from 1905.

Even in a lyrical section, Taneyev can't keep his romanticism under wraps for long, and the Navarro built potent climaxes in the concluding Allegro. Mr. Romasevich's penetrating top-end tone easily cut through the dense counterpoint and led the Trio through manifold deceptive cadences.

I find the D Major Trio difficult to get my arms around, but the fervor of Navarro's playing made a case for more familiarity.