Saturdays at 7:00 pm
Explore the diverse traditions of Latin American and Iberian music.
Fiesta is a weekly classical music program devoted to Latin American and Iberian music from the 16th to 21st century, and brings artistically and historically significant compositions and artists to its listeners. Acclaimed composer, musician, and professor Elbio Barilari is your guide on this adventure through a rich musical landscape. We invite you to enjoy and learn about the lively, compelling, and rarely-heard treasures of Latino classical music from around the world. Interviews with composers, conductors, and musicians enrich the music. Previous guests on Fiesta have included Eduardo Fernández, Carlos Kalmar, Piotr Nawrot, and José Serebrier.
The player below includes a continuous three hour loop of the most recent Fiesta episodes to be joined in progress.
Latin American Composers You SHOULD Know!
Heitor Villa-Lobos, Carlos Chávez, and Alberto Ginastera are at the prow of the Latin American music ship. On this episode of Fiesta, we go beyond those giants and feature other Latin American composers that you should know!
Music from Haiti
Colonized by France, and the first country in Latin American to win its independence, Haiti is often neglected or forgotten in the context of the Latin American culture. However, it has a strong musical tradition. Fiesta will bring to the audience some of its most important composers.
Great Latin American Guitar Composers
Guitar music is one of the strengths of the Latin American repertoire.
Memories from Sefarad
Sefarad is the name the Spanish Jews gave to that land, thence their denomination as Sephardic people. Expelled from Spain alongside the Muslims, their culture, and their language, the Ladino, have been preserved in Northern Africa, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Two-Hundred Years of Solitude
Social struggle and conflict have punctuated the history of Latin America. Art has always been a reflection of a society and music can be one of the most powerful. On this program, Elbio Barilari presents musical works linked to society and human landscapes.
Highlights from the 13th Chicago Latino Music Festival
The Chicago Latino Music Festival is the biggest classical music festival of its kind in the US. Featuring fantastic performers and a repertoire that goes from the Colonial period to the present. The 13th edition of this festival had a focus on the guitar and featured players Eduardo Fernandez, Fareed Haque, and Ivan Resendiz.
Teresa Carreño, Composer
Born in Venezuela in 1853, Teresa Carreño was one the first Latin American women with an international career as a pianist, composer and teacher. Fiesta looks into the life and music of this piano virtuoso nicknamed the “Valkyrie of the Piano.”
Smiles and Tears
Humor in music is fun to do, but it is not easy to pull off. This week we have a few great examples that even Mozart would laugh along with.
The Sound and the Fury
Latin American classical music is full of passionate and emotional music. Host, Elbio Barilari shares some of his most favorite composers who aren’t afraid to show the passion of their music.
Palaces and Cathedrals
Latin American colonial music has been a well hidden treasure. But, in the last 20 years the world has discovered the wealth and variety of the scores and traditions of the fascinating Latin American baroque. We hear some of these lost works that have been kept in the palaces and cathedrals of Bolivia, Brazil, and Mexico.
The Other Side of Moncayo
Fiesta explores the lesser known works of the great Mexican composer, José Pablo Moncayo.
Ildegonda
Today a footnote in a history full, mostly, of Italian, German and French names, there were Latin American composers considered mega-stars in the opera houses of the 19th century. Mexican Melesio Morales reached the height of his fame with his masterful opera Ildegonda.
Great Latino Virtuosi
Host, Elbio Barilari shares some of the great Latin American music in the hands, lips, and throats of some of the most gifted Latino interpreters.
Camerata de las Américas
One of the leading chamber ensembles dedicated to music written in the Americas, Camerata de las Américas, is the focus for this program.
Latin American Christmas Carols
A selection of villancicos or Christmas carols from Spain and Latin America are featured on this Christmas themed program from Fiesta. Join us for music that spans several centuries and a great diversity of influences and traditions.
Fiesta Goes to the Movies
During the golden age of Hollywood, countries like Mexico, Brazil and Argentina also developed their own healthy movie industries. Smaller nations also contributed to a robust catalog of Latin American movies. Almost every important Latin American composer from the last hundred years has been asked to compose film music, from Heitor Villa-Lobos in Brazil, to Silvestre Revueltas in Mexico, to ...
Latin American Classics
The music of Latino composers has made its way into the standard repertoire of music halls across the globe. Host Elbio Barilari shares some of the most known compositions as well as some that he thinks will become classics! Join us for this look into the past and the future of Latino classical music.
Spanish Baroque
In Spain, during the Baroque period there were many significant but often forgotten composers. Fiesta shares some of the treasures of the Spanish Baroque including music by Antonio Literes, José de Torres, and Gaspar Sanz.
Latino Salon
Popular in Europe in the 19th century, salon music made its way over to Latin America. Embraced by many composers and performers this style of music took on a new life across the ocean. Featured on this program is music from Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and Brazil.
Great Guitarists and Composers from Latin America
Some of the greatest performers and composers of the guitar have come from Latin America. In this program host, Elbio Barilari share some of his favorite pieces for this versatile instrument and some of the most important works for classical guitar.
