Sundays at 8:00 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.
Cuban Composer Julián Orbón
October 4, 2026, 8:00 pm
Born in Spain, Julián Orbón lived and composed in Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States of America. Aaron Copland referred to Orbón as “Cuba’s most gifted composer of his generation.” We will share some of his most beloved music including his Preludio and Danza for guitar.
Sonic Chemistry
October 11, 2026, 8:00 pm
Fiesta’s host Elbio Barilari picks a series of pieces with a particular sonic chemistry, including music by Cuban Paquito D’Rivera, Brazilians Radames Gnattalli and Heitor Villa-Lobos and Mexican Federico Ibarra.
Exploring the Roots
March 16, 2025
Spanish Renaissance music and Latin American folk music share many common traits. On this program we will discover those connections with music performed by the Mexican ensemble Tembembe and the Spanish scholar and master musician Jordi Savall and his group Hesperion XXI. Join us as we explore these soundscapes.
Chamber Music from Brazil, Spain & Portugal
March 9, 2025
The Ibero-American world includes Spain, Portugal and the three Americas. On this program, Fiesta’s host Elbio Barilari shares brilliant chamber music from these areas. Including works by the Brazilian Julio Medaglia, the Spanish cellist and composer Gaspar Cassadó, and the Portuguese born Joly Braga Santos.
Alejandro García Caturla: The Best-Kept Secret in Latin American Music
March 2, 2025
During his short life Alejandro García Caturla was both a musician and judge. He built an amazing and forward-looking musical catalog combining the Afro‐Cuban traditions and European classical techniques.
México On My Mind
February 23, 2025
On this Fiesta we will hear how composers from the US have been influenced by Mexican music and art. With compositions by Aaron Copland, Conlon Nancarrow, Robert McBride and Fiesta’s host Elbio Barilari.
Fresh Ink 2025
February 16, 2025
Fiesta’s continuing series of “Fresh Ink’, which features recently composed music from Latin America. Our program will feature adventurous works by Tania León, Carlos Pavan, Enrico Chapela, and Arturo Márquez
Robert Xavier Rodríguez: US Latino Composer
February 9, 2025
Fiesta celebrates the extraordinary career of Robert Xavier Rodríguez with two of his greatest works. One based on the Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal and the other, the Mexican artist and pop icon Frida Kahlo.
Latin American Art Songs
February 2, 2025
Fiesta explores the world of Latin American art songs on out next program. We will feature vocal music accompanied by strings, piano, guitar, and orchestra.
Great Symphonic Music of Mexico
January 26, 2025
Fiesta presents four outstanding orchestral works by contemporary and historical composers. We will hear the great Carlos Chávez Symphony No. 1 and José Pablo Moncayo’s miniature masterpiece Sinfonietta paired with recent works by Hebert Vázquez and Mauricio Zyman.
Le donne cambiate -An 18th Century Portuguese Opera
January 19, 2025
Fiesta presents selections from his opera “Le donne cambiate”, a very successful work which first performance took place at Teatro San Moisè, Venezia in 1797.
Intimate Sounds
January 12, 2025
Fiesta offers a series of glamorous and intimate combinations of instruments that are not often presented together: oboe and guitar, clarinet and guitar, viola and guitar, as well as some ensembles integrating all of the above. Works by Isaac Albéniz, Radamés Gnattali, and Astor Piazzolla will be featured.
Venezuelan Composer Paul Desenne
January 5, 2025
Paul Desenne’s tricultural vantage point on the musical world blends anthropological accuracy, conceptual diversity and musical abstraction in a vast body of work. His music is passionate, often features elaborate constructions in rhythmic counterpoint, and explores the many avenues of Latin American concert-music.
Latin American Concerto
December 29, 2024
This imaginary concert starts with Catalonian composer Josep Fabrega from the 18th century, continues with a Mexican Romantic composer Ricardo Castro from the 19th century and ends with a 20th century symphonic poem from the Argentinian Carlos López Buchardo
Classical Christmas in Latin America
December 22, 2024
Celebrating the season with a brand-new recording of José Mauricio de Nunes Garcia's monumental mass, “Missa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição”
A Mexican Concert
December 15, 2024
Fiesta’s Mexican concert starts with an overture by Spanish Mexican composer Rodolfo Halffter, continues with a lively piece by a Mexican living composer Hebert Vázquez, revisits the work of the 19th century genius Ricardo Castro and ends with Carlos Chávez’s Romantic Symphony conducted by the composer himself
Sephardic Music from Both Sides of the Atlantic
December 8, 2024
The songs of the Sephardic Jewish community from Spain that the Spanish monarchy banished from their country along with the Muslims, survives along the Mediterranean coasts as well as in Latin America. Fiesta explores this valuable tradition of exile, longing and intolerance.
Romantic Chamber Music from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico
December 1, 2024
There is enormous treasure of Latin American romantic and post-romantic music composed in the second half of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. Fiesta presents a selection of delightful chamber pieces by Brazilian composer Glauco Velázquez, Mexican composer Gustavo Campa and Argentine composer Constantino Gaito.
Three Fantasies
November 24, 2024
Since the Renaissance many composers have use the word “fantasy” as a title for pieces outside of the traditional musical forms. Fiesta presents three very different fantasies by Spanish composers Fernando Sor and Joaquin Rodrigo and Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Music from Mexico and Argentina
November 17, 2024
In this program Fiesta present a selection of three pieces from Mexican living composers Eduardo Angulo, Leonardo Coral, and Arturo Rodríguez as well as a rarely heard oboe concerto by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla.
Padre Antonio Soler
November 10, 2024
Antonio Soler was a prominent Spanish composer who linked the late baroque and early classical periods. Fiesta will feature his chamber music as well as his newly recorded music for the harpsichord.
Día de los Muertos — Day of the Dead
November 3, 2024
The Day of the Dead is about the honoring and paying tribute to one’s ancestors.