Robert Xavier Rodríguez (born June 28, 1946) is an American classical composer, best known for his eight operas and his works for children.
Rodríguez received his early musical education in his native San Antonio and in Austin (University of Texas at Austin), Los Angeles (University of Southern California), Lenox (Tanglewood), Fontainebleau (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. Other honors include the Prix Lili Boulanger, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Goddard Lieberson Award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. 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). He currently holds the Endowed Chair of University Professor of Music at the University of Texas at Dallas. 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 Vienna Schauspielhaus, he National Opera of Mexico, the New York City Opera, The Toronto Radio Orchestra, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others.
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 (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