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.
Music for the Ballet
Many of the most formidable pieces of the last hundred years have been dedicated to the ballet or modern dance. Latin American music is not the exception. Fiesta will present some of the most beloved, magical and dramatic Latin American works for dance.
The “Unknown” Joaquín Rodrigo
Works so successful as “Concierto de Aranjuez” (1939) and “ Fantasía para un Gentilhombre” (1958), both for guitar an orchestra, have somehow obscured the rest of the vast and amazing catalog of compositions by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. On this program, Fiesta’s host, composer Elbio Barilari, explores different areas of Rodrigo’s music.
Romantic Nationalism
During the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Latin American composers wrote pieces in a romantic and nationalistic style, combining the techniques of 19th century western music with the flavor of rhythms and melodies of their countries. Fiesta explores that fascinating musical period.
Violoncello: The Latin American Cello
Powerful and beautiful the cello has been an instrument beloved by Latin American composers. On this program, we will share some of the greatest cello music by Latino composers including Francisco Mignone, Carlos Chavez, Carlos Guastavino and Astor Piazzolla.
Touch of Nature
Fiesta again explores how Latin American composers have interpreted nature in music. Forests, jungles, mountains, and coastlines all have their unique sound.
The Great Alberto Ginastera
One of the greatest 20th century composers of all time, Alberto Ginastera was able to weave Latin American musical idioms into his music seamlessly. Fiesta will look at the maestro’s incredible catalog and share some of Elbio Barliari’s favorite recordings of Ginastera.
Choral Music of Latin America
From European traditions to the native cultures, choral music has always been a part of Latin America’s musical identity. Fiesta will highlight some of the great Latino composers of this art form.
Latina Composers
Already in the 19th century, there were Latin American women defying gender barriers in music and composition. That trend has only intensified during the 20th and 21st centuries. Fiesta will present a selection of great Latina composers.
Classical Tango
Since the 1920’s classical composers have found inspiration in the urban music from Rio de la Plata, Join host, Elbio Barilari, as he visits the symphonic and chamber repertoire inspired on this fascinating genre
Sureño: A New Album by KAIA String Quartet
Longtime friends and collaborators with Fiesta, the KAIA String Quartet, have released a new album Sureño, featuring the music of José Bragato and Astor Piazzolla. They will come into the studio to share recordings from the new album as well as record some new works especially for the Fiesta audience!
Travels to Sepharad
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, has been preserved in Northern Africa, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Fresh Ink!
Classical music in the 20th and 21st century has had a strong presence throughout Latin America. Host, Elbio Barilari shares some of the most interesting and beautiful music to come out of Latin America in the past decade.
Music from Galicia
There are many ways of being a Spaniard. One of them is being a gallego (or Galician, in English). That area of Northern Spain has its own language, the gallego, and embraces firmly its ancestral Celtic traditions. After visiting Andalusia, Catalonia and the Basque Country, Fiesta heads toward Galicia.
Paquito D’Rivera Visits Fiesta!
The multi Grammy Award winner clarinetist, saxophonist and composer Paquito D’Rivera visits with Fiesta and speaks with Elbio Barilari about his career, his influences, and his classical music repertoire. We will feature a variety of Paquito’s music from his long and illustrious catalog.
Mexican Violin with Guests Alan Snow and Joanne Chang
Host, Elbio Barilari sits down with young Chicago violinist Alan Snow and pianist Joanne Chang. They will speak about some of the great composers of the violin from Mexico and they will perform for us in WFMT’s Fay and Daniel Levin Studio!
Fiesta CD Grab Bag
We are having a ball trying to keep up with our ever-expanding musical collection as composers and performers around the world joyously overwhelm us with their creations. We’re consistently amazed by their level of talent and artistry, and are thrilled this week to share their music with our listeners.
Esta Tierra Es Mi Tierra: Latino Composers Reflect on the American Experience
Both, US born Latino composers and composers that migrated from Latin America have written music reflecting the American experience in all its nuances.
Great Brazilian Pianists
Brazil has always had a strong tradition of great pianists. On this program, Fiesta features some of the most accomplished Brazilian pianists, among them Nelson Freire, Caio Pagano, Arnaldo Estrella and Arthur Moreira Lima.
Baroque Music from Spain and the New World
The music written and performed in Spain Latin America during the Colonial period (16th to early 19th centuries) has become more popular in recent years. However, even before those treasures were rediscovered, several composers from those regions showed their interest in exploring the strong connections between Spanish (and European) music from the past and Spanish and Latin American folk music.
Living Latin American Composers
Some of the most fascinating living composers working today come from Latin America, composers such as Leo Brouwer, Esteban Benzecry, Miguel del Águila, and Enrico Chapela. Fiesta will review beautiful and harmonic music from the 21st century.
