{{short description|American classical composer (born 1946)}} {{For|the American director, writer, producer, and musician|Robert Rodriguez}} {{Infobox person | name = Robert Xavier Rodriguez | image = RXR at Copland House II Cropped.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|06|28}} | birth_place = [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]] | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = [[Classical music|classical]] [[composer]] | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Robert Xavier Rodríguez''' (born June 28, 1946) is an American [[Classical music|classical]] [[composer]], best known for his eight [[operas]] and his works for children.
== Life and career == Rodríguez received his early musical education in his native San Antonio and in Austin ([[University of Texas at Austin]]),<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/harvardbiographi00rand|url-access=registration|title=The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music|last=Randel|first=Don Michael|date=1996|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-37299-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/harvardbiographi00rand/page/754 754]}}</ref> Los Angeles ([[University of Southern California]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.usc.edu/alumni/award/|title=Outstanding Alumnus Award Recipients {{!}} USC Thornton School of Music|website=music.usc.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref> Lenox (Tanglewood), Fontainebleau ([[Fontainebleau Schools|Conservatoire Americain]]) and Paris. His teachers have included [[Nadia Boulanger]], [[Jacob Druckman]], [[Bruno Maderna]] and [[Elliott Carter]]. Rodríguez first gained international recognition in 1971, when he was awarded the ''Prix de Composition Musicale Prince Pierre de Monaco'' by [[Prince Rainier]] and [[Princess Grace]] at the [[Palais Princier]] in Monte Carlo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fondationprincepierre.mc/fr/prix/prix-de-composition-musicale/002/prix-de-composition-musicale-1971.html|title=Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323053036/http://www.fondationprincepierre.mc/fr/prix/prix-de-composition-musicale/002/prix-de-composition-musicale-1971.html|archive-date=2017-03-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other honors include the Prix [[Lili Boulanger]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.umb.edu/lili_boulanger/past_winners|title=Past Winners - University of Massachusetts Boston|website=www.umb.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=2018-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012522/https://www.umb.edu/lili_boulanger/past_winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> a [[Guggenheim Fellowship]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/#gf-search-submit-btn|title=John Simon Guggenheim Foundation {{!}} All Fellows|website=www.gf.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=2017-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707071610/http://www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/#gf-search-submit-btn|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Goddard Lieberson]] Award from the [[American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artsandletters.org/awards/|title=Awards – American Academy of Arts and Letters|website=artsandletters.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref> Rodríguez has served as Composer-in-Residence with the [[San Antonio Symphony]] (1996–99) and the [[Dallas Symphony]] (1982, Meet the Composer Orchestra Residency Program).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/07/arts/new-composers-residency-program.html|title=New Composers' Residency Program|date=1982-05-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-03-22|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He currently holds the Endowed Chair of University Professor of Music at the [[University of Texas at Dallas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.utdallas.edu/ah/people/faculty_detail.php?faculty_id=971|title=Faculty - School of Arts and Humanities - The University of Texas at Dallas|website=www.utdallas.edu|access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref> His music is published by [[G. Schirmer]] and is recorded on the Newport, Crystal, Orion, Gasparo, Urtext, ACA Digital, CRI, First Edition, Naxos and Albany labels.
Rodríguez’s music has been performed by conductors such as Sir [[Neville Marriner]], [[Antal Dorati]], [[Eduardo Mata]], and [[James DePriest]].
His works have received orchestral and operatic performances in recent seasons by various organizations, among which include the [[Schauspielhaus Wien|Vienna Schauspielhaus]], he National Opera of Mexico, the [[New York City Opera]], The Toronto Radio Orchestra, The [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]], and many others.
== Works ==
===Opera, theater and dance=== *''[[La Curandera]]'' (2006) - opera (Libretto: Mary Medrick) *''A Midsummer Night’s Dream'' (2001) - Incidental Music (Text: Shakespeare) *''The Tempest'' (2000) - Concert Dramatization (Text: Shakespeare) *''The Last Night of Don Juan'' (2000) - Musical Play (Text: Murray Ross, after Rostand, Zorilla) *''Meta 4'' (1994) - Ballet/String Quartet *''[[Frida (opera)|Frida]]'' (1991, rev. 93) - opera (Libretto: Hillary Blecher, [[Migdalia Cruz]]) *''The Old Majestic'' (1988) - opera (Libretto: Mary Medrick) *''Monkey See, Monkey Do'' (1986) - opera for children (Libretto: Mary Medrick) *''The Ransom of Red Chief'' (1986) - opera for children (Libretto: Daniel Dibbern after O. Henry) *''Tango'' (1985) - opera/theater piece (Text: Newsclippings) *''The Seven Deadly Sins'' (1984) - Ballet /Wind Ensemble *''Suor Isabella'' (1982) - opera (Libretto: Daniel Dibbern, after Boccaccio) *''Le Diable Amoureux'' (1978) - opera (Frans Boerlage, after Cazotte) *''Favola Concertante'' (1975, rev. 77) - ballet/ concerto for violin, cello and string orchestra
===Orchestra=== *''Fanfarria Son-Risa'' (2014) *''De Rerum Natura'' (2013) *''Canción de los niños'' (2007) for Children's Chorus and Orchestra *''Agnus Dei for Mozart's Mass in C-Minor'' (2006) for Soloists and Orchestra *''[[Musical Dice Game]]'' (2005) for Two String Quartets and Two String Orchestras *''Flight'' (2002) for Narrator and Orchestra (Text: Sukey Smith) *''The Tempest'' (2000) for Actors and Orchestra (Text: Shakespeare) *''Bachanale: Concertino for Orchestra'' (1999) *''Las Mañanitas de los Niños'' (1999) *''Praline and Fudge'' (1998) for Bass and Chamber Orchestra (Texts: Cookbooks) *''Forbidden Fire'' (1998) for Bass, Chorus and Orchestra (Texts: Bible, various sources) *''Sinfonia a la Mariachi'' (1997) for Double Orchestra *''Trilogica'' (''Pinata, Tango di Tango, Hot Buttered Rumba'') (1996) *''Hot Buttered Rumba'' (1996) *''Scrooge'' (1994) for Bass, Chorus and Orchestra (Text: Dickens) *''Adoracion Ambulante/Fanfare/Con Flor y Canto'' (1994) for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra (Text: Bible, Popol Vuh) *''Mascaras'' (1993) for Cello and Orchestra *''Pinata'' (1991) *''Ursa'' (1990) for Contrabass and Orchestra *''A Gathering of Angels: Bolero for Orchestra'' (1989) *''Invocation of Orpheus'' (1989) for Trumpet, Harp and Strings *''A Colorful Symphony'' (1987) for Narrator and Orchestra -Text: [[Norton Juster]] ([[The Phantom Tollbooth]]) *''We, the People'' (original title Jargon) (1987) for Narrator, Chorus and Orchestra (Text: Mary Medrick) *''Tango di Tango'' (1985) *''Varmi'ts!'' (1985) for Narrator, Chorus and Orchestra (Text: Texas Tall Tales) *''The Seven Deadly Sins'' (1984) for orchestra (also version for wind ensemble) *''Oktoechos: Concerto Grosso'' (1983) *''Trunks'' (1983) for Narrator and Orchestra (Text: Composer) *''Semi-Suite'' (1981) for Violin and Chamber Orchestra *''Estampie'' (1981) for Chamber Orchestra *''Transfigurationis Mysteria'' (1980) for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra (Text: Bible) *''Favola Boccaccesca'' (1979) *''The Salutation Rag'' (1978) *''Four Advent Chorale-Preludes by J. S. Bach'' (arr.1978)for Chorus and Orchestra *''Favola Concertante'' (1975, rev. 77) for Violin, Cello and String Orchestra *''Sinfonia Concertante'' (1974) for Soprano Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra *''Concerto III for Piano and Orchestra'' (1974) *''Canto'' (1973) for Soprano, Tenor and Chamber Orchestra (Text: Dante, Anonymous French) *''Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda by Claudio Monteverdi'' (arr.1973) *''Concert Suite from ‘L’Orfeo’'' by [[Claudio Monteverdi]] (arr. 1973) *''Concert Suite from ‘L’Incoronazione di Poppea’ by Claudio Monteverdi'' (arr.1972) *''Lyric Variations'' (1971) for Oboe and String Orchestra *''Adagio for Small Orchestra'' (1967)
===Chamber=== *''Above All, Women: Four Images of Gustav Klimt'' for String Quartet (2016) *''Alle(...)luia'' - Variations (1987) for Organ and Chimes *''Apache Wedding Blessing'' (2006) for Voice and Guitar *''Arabesque'' by Robert Schumann (arr. RXR, 2010) for 2 Guitars *''As: A Surfeit of Similes'' for SATB Chorus and Piano Solo (2014) *''Aspen Sketches'' (1992) for Piano *''Bachanale'' (1999) for 2 Pianos *''Canto'' (1982) (It/Fr) for Soprano, Tenor, and Ensemble (Text: Dante and anonymous French) *''Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother'' by J.S. Bach (arr. RXR, 1976) for 2, 3 or 4 Guitars *''Caprichos'' (2012) for Piano Solo *''Chronies'' (1981) for [[Bass clarinet|Bass Clarinet]] and Percussion *''Cinco Poemas de García Lorca'' (1975) (Sp) for Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, and Piano *''Concert Suite from Frida'' (1993) (En/Sp) for Mezzo-Soprano and Ensemble or Piano (Text: Hillary Blecher, Migdalia Cruz) *''Concert Suite from Suor Isabella'' (1983) for Soprano and Ensemble (Text: Daniel Dibbern) *''El día de los muertos'' (2006) for 8 percussionists *''Dolorosa et Lacrimabilis Es, Virgo Maria'' (1980) for Mixed Chorus, Soprano, Flute, and Windchimes *''The Dot and the Line'' (2005) for Narrator and Chamber Ensemble (Text: Norton Juster) *''Ductia'' (1980, rev. 83) for Harp, Harp Duo, Flute and Harp, or other combinations *''Estampie'' (1981) for Clarinet, Cello, Percussion, and Piano; version for Piano Solo *''Fantasia Lussuriosa'' (1989) for Piano *''Favola Concertante'' (1977) for Piano Trio *''Favola I, Episode from Favola Concertante'' (1977) for Cello *''Favola II, Episodes from Favola Boccaccesca'' (1980) for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano *''Five Etudes from Oktoechos'' (1983) 1. for Clarinet and Bassoon, 2. for Trumpet and Trombone, 3. for Piano Solo, 4. for Violin and Percussion, 5. for Cello Solo *''The Food of Love'' (2004) for Violin/Actor and Piano (Text: William Shakespeare) *''For Piano I and II'' (1978) for Piano *''Four Poems from ‘Neue Gedichte’'' (1971) (Gr) for soprano or tenor and piano (Text: Rainer Maria Rilke) *''Frammenti Musicali'' (1978) for Flute and Piano or for Piano Solo *''Gambits, Six Chess Pieces'' (2001) for Horn and Piano or Tuba and Piano *''Improvisation Matrix'' (1978) for Any Instrument or Combination of Instruments or for Piano Solo or Multiple Pianos *''Invocation of Orpheus'' (1989) for Trumpet, Harp, and String Quartet or for Trumpet and Piano *''Il Lamento di Tristano'' (1997) for Flute and Guitar *''Lull-A-Bear'' from ''Ursa'' (1993) for Cello (or Bassoon) and Piano *''Máscaras'' (1993) for Cello and Chamber Ensemble *''Medieval Suite'' (1983) from the ballet ''Estampie'' for Horn, Violin, and Piano *''Meditation'' (1981) for Flute, Clarinet, Cello, and Percussion *''Menasherie'' (2015) for SSA Chorus and Piano Solo *''Meta 4'' (1994) Ballet for String Quartet *''A Midsummer Night’s Dream'' (2001) – Incidental Music for the Shakespeare Play *''Mirror Sonnets'' (1989) for One, Two or Three Sopranos and Guitar or Piano (Text: Fred Curchack) *''Música, por un tiempo'' (2008) for B-flat Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano *''My Lady Carey’s Dompe'' (1985) Variations on an Elizabethan Melody for Piccolo Trumpet, Descant Horn and Keyboard (Harpsichord or Piano) *''Les Niais Amoureux'' (1989) for Clarinet and Piano Trio *''Omaggio al Divino'' (2009) for Two Guitars *''Plaisir d’Amour'' (1982) - after the song by Padre Martini for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon *''Praline and Fudge'' (1979) - Recitative and Aria in Baroque Style for Bass Voice and Piano (Text: from Cookbooks) *''Presences'' (1973) (Fr) for Soprano or Tenor and Piano (Text: Peter Clothier, trans. by Lucile Golson) *''Quodlibet'' on Medieval Tunes (1978) for any number of players on any combination of instruments *''The Salutation Rag'' (1976, rev. 79) for Piano 4-hands *''Semi-Suite'' (1980) for Piano, 4-hands *''Semi-Suite'' (1981) for Violin and Piano (plus Clarinet and Percussion ad lib) *''Seven Deadly Sequences'' (1990) for Piano *''Six Episodes from The Ransom of Red Chief'' (1987) for Piano *''Six Maxims de La Rochefoucauld'' (1991) (Fr) for Voice and Piano *''Six Songs of E.E. Cummings'' (2008) for Soprano and Marimba or Soprano and Piano *''Son Risa'' (2006) for Solo Harp *''Sonata in One Movement'' (1973) for Soprano Saxophone (or Clarinet) and Piano *''Sonatina d’Estate'' (1982) for Flute and Piano *''The Song of Songs'' (''Shir Hashirim'') (1992) for Soprano, Narrator, and Ensemble (Text: Sholom Aleichem [trans. by Curt Leviant] and the Bible) *''Sor(tri)lège: Trio III'' (2007) for Piano Trio *''Tango'' (1985) for Tenor and Chamber Ensemble (Libretto (En) by the Composer from 1913-14 news clippings) *''Tango di Tango'' (1985) for Violin, Accordion and Piano or for Piano Solo *''Tango Sueño'' (1986), Lullaby for Piano *''Tentado por la samba'' (2007) for Cello and Piano *''Three Lullabies'' (1990) for Piano or Guitar (transcribed for guitar by Enric Madriguera) *''Three Songs and A Monologue from As You Like It'' (1990) for Voice and Piano *''Toccata for Guitar Quartet'' (1976) *''Toccata for Guitar Solo'' (1983) (transcribed by Robert Guthrie) *''Toccata for Percussion Quintet'' (1977) *''Trio I'' (1971) for Piano Trio *''Trio II'' (1970) for Piano Trio *''The Versatility Rag'' (2006) for Piano Solo *''Xochiquetzal'' (2014) for Violin and Percussion Sextet *''Xochiquetzal'' (2015) for Violin and Piano
== Recordings == *''Remembranzas de mi Guitarra / Tango Amor, Three Lullabies'' - Enric Madriguera, Guitar; Albany, TROY 1600 *''Música, por un tiempo: SOLI Chamber Ensemble/Música, por un tiempo '' - SOLI; Albany, TROY 1505 *''Robert Xavier Rodríguez: Works for Piano'' / ''Caprichos, Fantasia Lussuriosa, Estampie, Seven Deadly Sequences, Semi-Suite, Hot Buttered Rumba'' - Jeff Lankov, Piano; Albany, TROY 1477 *''Robert Xavier Rodriguez: Complete Works for Cello and Piano / Tentado por la samba, Máscaras, Ursa, Favola I, Lull-A-Bear'' - Jesus Castro-Balbi, Cello and Gloria Lin, Piano; Albany, TROY 1355 *''Chamber Works / Meta 4, Trio III: Sor(tri)lege, Trio II, Trio I'' - Colorado Quartet, Clavier Trio, Voices of Change. Albany, TROY 1136 *''American Music for Percussion 1 / El día de los muertos '' - New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble; Frank Epstein, Conductor; Naxos 8.559683 *''Robert Xavier Rodríguez: Works for Chorus & Orchestra / Forbidden Fire, Con Flor y Canto, Scrooge'' - George Cordes, Baritone; Rodney Nolan, Tenor; University of Miami Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Miami Children's Chorus; Thomas M. Sleeper, Conductor. Albany, TROY 430 *''Robert Xavier Rodríguez: Meet the Composer Recording / Oktoechos'' – Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Eduardo Mata, Conductor / ''Favola Boccaccesca'' – Louisville Orchestra; Lawrence Leighton Smith, Conductor / ''The Song of Songs'' – Voices of Change, Irene Gubrud, Soprano; Fred Curchack, Actor; Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Conductor. First Edition, FECD-0027 *''Musical Theater Works/ Tango'' – Rafael Alvarez, Tenor / ''Concert Suite from Frida'' – Angelina Réaux, Soprano; Voices of Change; Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Conductor CRI, CD824 *''Voces Americanas: Works by Robert Xavier Rodriguez, Mario Lavista, Roberto Sierra, Mario Davidovsky, Tania Leon./ Les Niais Amoureux'' - Emanuel Borok, Violin; Ross Powell, Clarinet; Christopher Adkins, Cello; Jo Boatright, Piano; Voices of Change. CRI 773. (Nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for "Best Small Ensemble Performance".) *''Celebration Of Flight: Works by William Bolcom, Steven Winteregg, Michael Schelle, and Robert Xavier Rodríguez / Flight'' - Allison Janney, narrator; Dayton Philharmonic; Neal Gittleman, conductor. Albany, TROY 672 *''Laugh, Regardless of Creed : Works of Louis Gruenberg, Alla Borzova, Robert Xavier Rodríguez and Larry Alan Smith / Tango'' – [[Paul Sperry (lyric tenor)|Paul Sperry]], Tenor; Members of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra; Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Conductor. Albany, TROY 740 *''American Music for Percussion 1 / El día de los muertos'' - New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble; Frank Epstein, Conductor; Naxos 8.559683 *''Le Grand Tango: Works of Astor Piazzolla, Alberto Ginastera, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Federico Ibarra, Robert Xavier Rodríguez and Manuel Enríquez / Lull-A-Bear'' - Carlos Prieto, Cello; Edison Quintana, Piano. Urtext, JBCC014 *''American Contemporary Chamber Music'': Works of William Kraft, Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Larry Alan Smith and Dan Welcher / '' Chronies, Meditation'' - Voices of Change. Crystal, CD704 *''Rachmaninov Suites / Bachanale'' (version for two pianos) - Miwako Takeda & Nobuhito Nakai, Pianos; Pro Arte Musicae, 2008.9.27 *''Encantamiento / Son Risa'' - Elisabeth Remy Johnson, Harp; ACA Digital, CM20103 *''I Loved Lucy / Il Lamento di Tristano'' - Susan DeJong, Flute; Jeffrey Van, Guitar; Duologue. Gasparo, GSCD-348 *''Americans in Paris / Six Maxims de la Rochefoucauld'' - Hillary Hight Daw, Soprano; Barbara Elfrid, Piano. ACA Digital *''Seven World Premieres / Tentado por la samba'' - Carlos Prieto, Cello; Doris Stephenson, Piano. Urtext, JBCC 183
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==References==
* Linda Navarro, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110517023121/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7445690.html Opera in two tongues: 'Curandera' connects with crowd in Spanish, English], ''Colorado Gazette'', May 18, 2007. Retrieved via subscription 21 February 2008. * Kerri Allen, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110517023239/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1167454441.html Extraordinary Composer Robert Xavier Rodríguez at UTD], ''The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education'', November 6, 2006. Retrieved via subscription 21 February 2008. * Bob Bows, 'La Curandera' (Opera review),''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', May 29, 2006 * Marc Shulgold, [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_4694448,00.html Can opera magic conjure new fans?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610003027/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_4694448,00.html |date=2007-06-10 }} ''Rocky Mountain News'', May 13, 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2008. * {{Cite Grove |last=Shulman |first=Laurie |title=Rodríguez, Robert (Xavier)}} * John Rockwell,Concert Review ('Tango'): A Conductor With a Flair for the Contemporary [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/12/arts/review-concert-a-conductor-with-a-flair-for-the-contemporary.html], ''New York Times'', January 12, 1990,
==External links== * [http://www.RobertXavierRodriguez.com Robert Xavier Rodríguez official site] * [http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/long-bio/Robert-Xavier-Rodriguez Biography] on G. Schirmer/Music Sales * [http://ah.utdallas.edu/people/rxrodriguez.html Biography], University of Texas at Dallas * [http://www.sai-national.org/phil/composers/rxrodrig.html Biography] on [[Sigma Alpha Iota]] Philanthropies. * [http://www.bruceduffie.com/rodriguez.html Interview with Robert Xavier Rodríguez], November 19, 1998 {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Robert Xavier}} [[Category:1946 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts alumni]] [[Category:USC Thornton School of Music alumni]] [[Category:American classical composers]] [[Category:American musicians of Mexican descent]] [[Category:American opera composers]] [[Category:American male opera composers]] [[Category:Musicians from San Antonio]] [[Category:Classical musicians from Texas]] [[Category:Composers from Texas]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians]]