Plena Libre

Plena Libre

$30 | $20 under 35 | $10 UChicago Students

With an aggressive, tight, yet sensitive style that balances the traditional with the contemporary, global and local, Plena Libre creates a brand of music and live performance that is both profoundly Puerto Rican and universally appealing. Filtering the sounds of various Afro-Caribbean forms like merengue, cumbia, mambo and salsa through a unique set of artistic sensibilities, this versatile collection of expert performers creates a celebratory spectacle and engaging sonic ecstasy. Thrilling audiences around the world, from the Fez Festival in Morocco to the Playboy Jazz Festival, Plena Libre is a train that just keeps picking up steam as it charges ahead in unexpected and exciting directions. 
 
Plena Libre presents a mainstage performance in UChicago’s Mandel Hall. With its unique, modern blend of a hard-hitting horn section, master hand drummers, and lush three-part vocal harmonies, Plena Libre infuses contemporary Caribbean compositions with a deep sense of indigenous musical traditions, reviving a century-old style for a new generation. 

This concert is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Presented by UChicago Presents and in partnership with the Center for Latin American Studies.

The health and safety of our community is of the utmost concern to the Department of Music and The University of Chicago. Please see our COVID-19 Updates page for the latest information about mask and vaccine requirements at events.