Rafael Ibarbia

{{Short description|Spanish composer and music director (1931–2003)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rafael Ibarbia

| image =

| imagesize =

| birth_name = Rafael Ibarbia Serra

| birth_date = 1931

| birth_place = Barcelona, Spain

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|01|13|1931|df=y}}

| death_place = Madrid, Spain

| occupation = Conductor, composer, arranger, pianist, and music director

| spouse = Adelaida Ruiz Cárdenas

| children =

| alias =

}}

Rafael Ibarbia Serra (1931 – 13 January 2003), was a Spanish conductor, composer, pianist, and music director. He worked for twenty-seven years in Televisión Española (TVE) as music director, conductor, and arranger.

Career

He conducted the {{Esccnty|Spain|y=1968|t=Spanish winning entry}} in the Eurovision Song Contest at the {{escyr|1968||1968 contest}}, "La La La" sung by Massiel.{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1968|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1968|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=6 April 1968}} The orchestral arrangement he made was totally right as it accelerated the pace of the song gaining strength.{{cite news|url=https://eurovision-spain.com/massiel-y-el-la-la-la-40-anos-de-exito/|title=Massiel y el "La, la, la", 40 años de éxito|website=eurovision-spain|date=6 April 2008|language=es}} He also conducted another five Spanish entries in the contest in different years: At the {{escyr|1963||1963 contest}} he conducted "Algo prodigioso" sung by José Guardiola,{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1963|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1963|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=23 March 1963}} at the {{escyr|1964||1964 contest}} he conducted "Caracola" sung by Nelly with Tim and Tony,{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1964|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1964|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=DR / EBU|date=21 March 1964}} at the {{escyr|1966||1966 contest}} he conducted "Yo soy aquél" sung by Raphael,{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1966|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1966|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=CLT / EBU|date=5 March 1966}} at the {{escyr|1974||1974 contest}} he conducted "Canta y sé feliz" sung by Peret,{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1974|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1974|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=6 April 1974}} and at the {{escyr|1977||1977 contest}} he conducted "Enséñame a cantar" sung by Micky.{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1977|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1977|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=7 May 1977}}

He conducted the Spanish winning entry in the OTI Festival at the 1976 contest, "{{ill|Canta cigarra|es}}" sung by {{ill|María Ostiz|es}}.{{Cite episode|title=Festival OTI de la Canción 1976|episode-link=OTI Festival 1976|series=OTI Festival|series-link=OTI Festival|network=Televisa / OTI|date=30 October 1976|language=es}} He was the musical director of the 1977 contest, which was held in Madrid, and conducted "Al nacer cada enero", sung by Fernando Casado, representing the Dominican Republic, "Enséñame a vivir", sung by Ana Marcela D'Antonio, representing El Salvador, "El verbo amar", sung by Mildred y Manolo, representing Guatemala, "El hombre", sung by Tony Morales, representing Honduras, "Gente eres tú", sung by {{ill|Ced Ride|nl}}, representing the Netherlands Antilles, and "Canta a la vida", sung by Leopoldo Hernández, representing Panama.{{Cite episode|title=Festival OTI de la Canción 1977|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOB-OgSQmWM|episode-link=OTI Festival 1977|series=OTI Festival|series-link=OTI Festival|network=TVE / OTI|date=12 November 1977|language=es}} He also conducted the Spanish entry at the 1974 contest, "Lapicero de madera" sung by {{ill|Lia Uyá|es}}.{{Cite episode|title=Festival OTI de la Canción 1974|episode-link=OTI Festival 1974|series=OTI Festival|series-link=OTI Festival|network=Televisa / OTI|date=26 October 1974|language=es}}

He was the musical director of numerous Televisión Española (TVE) shows, such as {{ill|Gente joven|es}} and {{ill|Gran parada|es}}. He was also the musical director of the Benidorm International Song Festival in several editions. He made more than 3,000 music recordings of various genres, from classical music to flamenco. He recorded several albums with the RTVE Symphony Orchestra.{{cite news|date=14 January 2003|url=https://www.abc.es/cultura/musica/abci-muere-director-orquesta-rafael-ibarbia-logro-exito-200301140300-155530_noticia.html|title=Muere el director de orquesta Rafael Ibarbia, que logró el éxito en TVE|newspaper=ABC|language=es}}

Selected filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1958 \| Habanera \|
1964 \| La chica del gato \|
1971 \| {{ill\|El armario del tiempo\|es}} \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1958

| Habanera

1964

| La chica del gato

1971

| {{ill|El armario del tiempo|es}}