Mexico, which counts him among its most prominent living artists, is honoring Federico Ibarra's 70th birthday in 2016 with a yearlong series of concerts and performances. The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque is taking part in that celebration by welcoming Ibarra for a three-day musical residency in early March.
The man who has made the residency possible is Ibarra's musical colleague, UNM pianist Fred Sturm. Sturm, who has organized two concerts of Ibarra's chamber music for the residency, says the first of those concerts, on March 4, features the world premiere of Ibarra's new Sonata for Violin and Piano.
Sturm talks in detail about the events planned for Federico Ibarra's residency in this longer version of the interview, and discusses the professional relationship he has forged with Ibarra over the years.
Federico Ibarra's Sonata #6 (I Andante and II Presto), from Fred Sturm's CD of the composer's works for solo piano.