Baron & Navarro Piano Duo - French Music for Two Pianos - Debussy, Poulenc, Ra (2021)

From at least the time of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig Johann Krebs, Giovanni Pergolesi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, works for multiple keyboards have attracted composers, performers and audiences – no more than in the 19th century when Franz Liszt and others brought immense attention to ensemble playing. The early 20th century saw the popularity of two-piano teams expand in Europe and America. Radio and recordings abetted the rise of audiences eager to hear the duos Appleton & Field, Bartlett & Robertson, Ferrante & Teicher, Gold & Fizdale, Labeque sisters, Luboshutz & Nemenoff, Pierce & Jonas, Vronsky & Babin and Whittemore & Lowe – prominent among the many. Each ensemble’s tours featured works such as the ones presented here.

The Baron & Navarro Piano Duo performs a wide range of music for Two Pianos and Piano–Four-Hands with electric energy and melting lyricism to critical acclaim. Formed in 2013, they have been praised for their technical brilliance and innovative programming.

An award-winning concert pianist, Michael Baron performs more than 40 concerts a year, including annual tours of Europe and South America and engagements throughout the United States and Asia. Equally at home as a recitalist, a chamber musician and a soloist with orchestra, Baron commands a diverse repertoire, ranging from Baroque compositions to world premieres of contemporary pieces. A Steinway Artist, his virtuosity and musicianship regularly garner the highest critical acclaim. Also a distinguished educator, he has presented master classes and workshops at schools, festivals and universities throughout the world and regularly serves as a jurist at regional, national and international piano competitions. He studied with Earl Wild, Orazio Frugoni, Howard Karp, and Renato Premezzi. Baron received his doctorate in piano performance from The Ohio State University. He serves as the Myra and Van Williams Distinguished Professor of Music and Head of Keyboard Studies at the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University. He is also Honorary Professor of Music at Yantai University and Hubei University in the People’s Republic of China.

Peruvian-born pianist Priscila Navarro is the first prize winner of several competitions, including the Liszt-Garritson International Competition in Maryland, Beethoven Sonata Competition in Tennessee, Chopin International Competition of Texas, Artist Series of Florida and the Imola City Awards in Italy. Navarro received a Special Prize for her performance of music by J.S. Bach at the International City of Vigo Competition in Spain, where she was a finalist out of 400 participants, with a jury presided over by Martha Argerich. As a chamber musician, she regularly performs with a variety of musicians. Navarro, who began music studies at age 9 at the National Conservatory of Peru, earned her DMA in piano performance and pedagogy at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where she also completed Masters and Artist Diploma degrees. She graduated from Florida GulfCoast University, studying under Michael Baron. Navarro is a passionate pedagogue, being a jury member at numerous international competitions, including the Chopin International Competition for Latin American pianists and the Heida Hermann International Competition. She is currently the artistic director of the First Parnassus of the International Competition Music.