Sundays at 10:00 pm
Exploring the diverse traditions of Latin American and Iberian music
Devoted to showcasing Latin American and Iberian music from the 16th century to today, Fiesta brings creatively and historically significant compositions and artists to audiences. Acclaimed composer, musician, and professor Elbio Barilari is your guide on this adventure through a rich musical landscape. Enjoy and learn about the lively, compelling, and seldom-heard treasures of Latin American and Spanish classical music from around the world.
Alicia de Larrocha
May 12, 2024, 10:00 pm
Fiesta celebrates the legacy of the great Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha. We will share some of Elbio’s favorite recordings of this amazing artist.
6 Musical Works by Latina Composers Everyone Should Know
January 20, 2018
Fiesta pays tribute to the many female composers of Latin America.
The Magical Palette of Edino Krieger
January 13, 2018
Outside his native Brazil, Edino Krieger is mostly known for his substantial work for the piano. But he was also a very imaginative orchestrator.
Island Hopping: A Musical Getaway to the Canary Islands and the Caribbean
January 6, 2018
Host, Elbio Barilari takes you on a musical trip to the many islands in Latin America and Spain. Featuring some of his favorite composers, we will visit the Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Haiti.
Latin American Mix Tape 2
December 30, 2017
Fiesta presents a selection of the program’s favorite composer and works since the beginning of the program. We will be featuring some of the most important classical music of Latin America from the 16th to the 21st century.
Latin American Christmas Carols 2017
December 23, 2017
A selection of villancicos or Christmas carols from Spain and Latin America will be featured on this Christmas themed program from Fiesta.
Lost but Not Forgotten
December 9, 2017
Throughout history some composers reached immense popularity to just be quickly forgotten, many times for reasons unknown. On this episode of Fiesta we will share some of the lost composers of Latin American and share some of their greatest music.
The Latin American Express
December 2, 2017
Join host, Elbio Barilari as he takes you on a musical tour of Latin America.
100 Years of ‘La cumparsita’:10 versions of the most popular tango of all time
November 25, 2017
Considered the anthem of tango music and one of the most popular tunes in history, "La Cumparsita" was composed in 1917 by Uruguayan pianist Gerardo Matos Rodríguez.
The “other” Joaquín Rodrigo
November 18, 2017
The tremendous popularity of “Concierto de Aranjuez” has made of Joaquín Rodrigo almost a “one piece composer” or a “composer for the guitar,” which cannot be farther from the truth. In this program Fiesta! reviews vocal, piano and chamber music by this fantastic composer.
Roberto Sierra: Composer
November 11, 2017
Puerto Rican, Roberto Sierra is one of the most important living composers of contemporary classical music. Sierra’s work draws from the 20th century avant-garde music and the 19th century romantic traditions alike and synthesized his European and Latino influences.
100th Anniversary of Lamarque Pons
November 4, 2017
Join Fiesta and guitarist, Eduardo Fernández, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Uruguayan composer and pianist Lamarque Pons.
Folk Music of Latin America
October 28, 2017
On this special edition of Fiesta, host Elbio Barilari, presents some of the most important folk music from Latin America. Featuring music from Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mexico this program showcases popular music that has transcended many genres.
Chamber Tango
October 21, 2017
Tango was born around 1880 in Buenos Aires and Montevideo as dance music, but by the 1940ʼs it was introduced to the concert hall. Since then tango has inspired many composers to write concert music for this globally popular dance
Miguel Del Águila: Uruguayan-American Composer
October 14, 2017
Host Elbio Barilari, speaks with his fellow countryman Miguel Del Águila about composing music in the 21st century, his early life in Uruguay, and his music output.
Spain and Latin America on Six-Strings
September 30, 2017
Spain and Latin America are the homeland of the guitar. Nurtured by the Spanish inheritance as well as the African sense of rhythm and the Native American melodies, Latin American guitar music has given a treasure of music to the world.
Mexican Soundscapes
September 16, 2017
Together with Brazil and Cuba, Mexico is one of the powerhouses of Latin American music. With roots in the native cultures as well as in the Colonial period, Mexican music shows an extraordinary vitality and a variety of colors and soundscapes.
The Invention of Morel: A New Opera by Stewart Copeland and Jonathan Moore
September 2, 2017
Fiesta's host Elbio Barilari sits down with composer Stewart Copeland (co-founder and drummer of The Police) and librettist/director Jonathan Moore about their world premiere of their new opera The Invention of Morel at Chicago Opera Theater.
Music from Cuba
August 26, 2017
Cuba is, and it has always been since the Colonial period, one of the powerhouses of music in this side of the Atlantic. In this edition of Fiesta we visit (or revisit, in some cases), the music of a handful of Cuban composers born between the 30’s and the 50’s.
Superstring Theory
August 19, 2017
This program of Fiesta showcases music for string quartet and string instruments in different combinations. We will highlight some of Latin America’s most important and influential composers. Enjoy the vitality and beauty of rarely heard Latin American and Spanish string music.
Choros N.10 & N.12 – Masterpieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos
August 12, 2017
Continuing our exploration of Heitor Villa-Lobos’s monumental Choros series. Here we have the Choros N. 10 and N. 12 two of his symphonic tributes to this Brazilian musical style.