Robert Xavier Rodriguez***

Robert Xavier Rodriguez resides in Dallas, TX, where he is currently Professor of Music and Director of the Musica Nova Ensemble at the University of Texas-Dallas and is active as a guest lecturer and conductor. The world premiere of Rodriguez’s The Dot and the Line for narrator, chamber ensemble, and projected images took place May 1, 2005, at the University of Texas, Dallas. Based upon Norton Juster’s classic book, The Dot and the Line is Rodriguez’s second Juster-based work, following the orchestral A Colorful Symphony adapted from The Phantom Toll Booth. Premieres are scheduled for the comic opera La Curandera (Opera Colorado) in March 2006, Musical Dice Game (Dallas Symphony) in April 2006, “Agnus Dei” from Mozart’s Mass in C Minor (Dayton Philharmonic) in May 2006, and for the New England Conservatory and Tanglewood percussion ensembles. Rodriguez’s opera Monkey See, Monkey Do continues to be one of the most frequently-performed contemporary operas in the U.S., with over 2,000 performances to date. Recent performances of other operas include two American productions of The Old Majestic and three European productions of the highly acclaimed opera Frida, based on the life of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The composer’s website may be found at www.schirmer.com/composers/rodriguez/bio.html.

Premieres

The Dot and the Line, for narrator and chamber ensemble, was first heard in a May 1, 2005, performance by Voices of Change, under the direction of Lawrence Loh, with actor Fred Curchack as narrator, University of Texas, Dallas.

Performances

Tango for tenor and chamber ensemble was performed by the Lontano Ensemble in London, England; the University of Wisconsin; and on July 6, 2005, at Utah State University. The Song of Songs was heard at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in a performance conducted by the composer. Opera Colorado presented the children’s opera Monkey See, Monkey Do on tour throughout the spring and fall of 2005. On February 8-14, 2006, Kansas City Symphony will premiere A Colorful Symphony.

Publications

Les Niais Amoureux for violin, clarinet, cello, and piano; published by G. Schirmer (as are all the composer’s works).

Recordings

Tango for tenor and chamber ensemble; Paul Sperry, tenor, members of the San Diego Symphony, conducted by the composer; Albany Records.

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2003-2004 American Composers Update
• 2002-2003 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section