Decades ago, Jordi Savall made his name as a master of the obsolete viola da gamba. By now, we know that concertizing as a soloist is just one of many strings to his bow. In his most impressive capacity, Savall weaves little-known songs and sounds of bygone eras into musical tapestries that bring colorful cultural history thrillingly to life. Whether in live performance or on CD, Savall’s programs bear a conceptual resemblance to top-flight coffee-table books. Past objects of Savall’s scholarly curiosity include the colliding faiths of medieval Jerusalem, Joan of Arc, the slave trade, Don Quixote, and many more. In Festa criolla, Savall and his ensemble Le Concert des Nations present music of the New World in the context of its mingled Indigenous, African, and European sources. Joining in are folk musicians for whom the exotic traditions are still very much alive. —Matthew Gurewitsch