Roberto Fonseca: Live at the Barbican

Roberto Fonseca transports audiences to Cuban music’s heyday with 'La Gran Diversión'.

A favourite moment from the show with Roberto Fonseca (c) Tricia Yourkevich

Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca brought his La Gran Diversión project to the Barbican, and the audience didn’t want the show to end. Based on Fonseca’s 2023 album, La Gran Diversión evokes Cuba’s musical past, while firmly establishing it in the present.

Fonseca (piano, keyboards and voice) was accompanied by Yuri Hernandez (trumpet), Jimmy Jenks (tenor sax), Ariel Vigo (baritone sax), Felipe Cabrera (double bass), Ruly Herrera (drums) and the staggering Andres Coayo (percussion). On stage, this felt like a family and the tributes they paid to musicians who had paved the way for them included not just the music, but also the video backdrop. Throughout the show, video and still images painted a picture that took the whole audience to Cuba of the past and the present.

The three horns layered their lines and interacted with each other and Fonseca’s vocals nad piano. The spectacular Mani Mambo demanded audience participation and the entire show took us through big production numbers and more intimate numbers like the duet with Coayo’s bongos.

With Roberto Fonseca in November 2024

It was great to be able to chat with Roberto for Harmonious World in November 2024. Immediately after our interview, he was on stage playing solo piano and it was electrifying in its brilliance. His control over tempo and rhythm is exemplary: on both occasions when I’ve seen him perform, he’s shown himself to be a sublime pianist, band leader and performer.

Check out the various opportunities around the world to seee Roberto Fonseca perform with different ensembles

*** Apologies that there are no live photos for this show - I respected the announcement not to take any