Press and professional reference documents
Quotes from Artists about Carlos César Rodríguez
“Carlos Cesar Rodriguez is an extraordinary pianist and consummate musician whose level of work places him at the very top of his profession....His activities as a recording artist are noteworthy, and his professional skills as pedagogue are superb”
- Jim Weaver, Former Curator at Smithsonian Institution
Carlos was sensational. The ovation for him was overwhelming. I told him, “it does not get better than this.”
- Maestro William Hudson, Former conductor of the Fairfax Symphony
“let me introduce you to a genius”
- Alicia de Larrocha
“He is music personified”
- Clifton Matthews , Piano Professor Emeritus at University of North Carolina School of the Arts
”musically intense and pianistically solid” .
- Joseph Kalichstein, Pianist and Professor at the Juilliard School of Music
“I have known [Mr. Rodríguez] over the decades in many capacities—first as a pianist, accompanist, and coach, and now recently as a conductor....Carlos has always deeply impressed me as a consummate musician, with his broad knowledge of repertoire in many genres, and his abilities as a pianist to not only perform, but to sight-read, improvise, or transpose.....I have particularly enjoyed our shared passion for Zarzuela”
- Plácido Domingo
Press Quotes for Carlos Cesar Rodriguez
Review quotes
As Solo Pianist
“Carlos César Rodríguez is such a phenomenon....Truly Mr. Rodríguez has it all...”
- New York Concert Review
“A performer who throws body and soul into his work...Carlos César Rodríguez is as compelling to watch as he is to hear.”
- The Washington Post
“A Piano Virtuoso”.....About Mr.Rodriguez’s performance of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” “Rodriguez gave a performance notable for brilliance, subtlety, a fine control of keyboard colorations and overwhelming muscular power”
- The Washington Post
As Concerto Soloist
“COLORS: Symphony, Pianist work in Harmony”
Rodríguez ‘s gifts seemed ready-made for the material at hand [de Falla’s Night in the Gardens of Spain] He brought out the fiery nature of get-up-and-dance rhythms. He lent a pleasing spontaneity to some of the melodic content...He produced a range of wonderful effects...”
- Winston-Salem Journal
“Rodriguez conjured a gorgeous piano tone with a refined palette of color and a hair-trigger control of rhythm and dynamics”
- Classical Voice of North Carolina
“Sheer sonic splendor.....It was a thrilling performance......this piece [Liszt’s Totentanz] is mostly fireworks, and he set them all off.”
- The Washington Post
“Carlos Rodriguez’s shimmering piano in Mozart’s “Jeunehomme” Concerto...” ..Rodriguez ....performed with unfailing fluidity and poise....beautiful singing tone...”
- Winston-Salem Journal
“nothing short than magical” [ Mozart Piano Concerto K. 488]
- DC Theater Arts
As Collaborative Artist and Conductor
“¡Viva Zarzuela!” “The piano trembled like Spanish guitar!
- The Washington Post ,
As Conductor
Mozart’s Musical Odyssey The “In” Series Mounts as Intriguing Idomeneo “Rodriguez managed his roles as music director, … and harpsichordist with amazing versatility and energy”
- The Washington Post
Maria la O and Pagliacci “the “orchestra “ was literally in the hands of…Carlos César Rodríguez”
-The Washington Post
Recording review quotes .
As solo pianist
About his CD España en el corazón
“Reviewing discs like this one make a critic’s task a pleasant and simple one. First of all, the playing is splendid throughout. The Venezuelan pianist Carlos César Rodríguez is a brilliant colorist...”In almost every selection here he is never less than compelling and totally assured.”
WWW.CD.COM
As collaborative artist.
Review of The Art of Christmas CD,Vol.I : Carmen Balthrop, soprano and Carlos César Rodríguez, piano
“Pianist Carlos Rodriguez’s accompaniment is flawless”
- The Washington Post
FULL BIOGRAPHY
Carlos César Rodríguez
Biography
Acclaimed by the Washington Post as a “virtuoso…. powerful …masterful… pianist…as compelling to watch as he is to hear…”, Carlos César Rodríguez is a musician of great brilliance and versatility. He has gained recognition as a virtuoso pianist who not only generates excitement in the Hispanic and Spanish repertoire but also displays an extraordinary flair for Mozart, the Romantics and the Avant-garde scores. He has recorded for Omicron and Brioso labels and has won the highest critical acclaim for his CD of Spanish music, España en el corazón, distributed by Brioso Recordings. At home on early instruments as well, he has enjoyed entrée to the Smithsonian Institution’s rare collection, Mr. Rodríguez was chosen by the Smithsonian to perform during the 300th year celebration of the Piano by the museum. He was also invited to participate in the 150th anniversary celebration of the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Rodríguez has won acclaim as music director of Mozart operas and Zarzuelas (Spanish operas), and as a composer, arranger, and improviser of ballets, Spanish dance scores, and Latin-Jazz/Pop compositions.
As concert-pianist Carlos César Rodríguez made his recital debut in his native Venezuela at age 5 and made his orchestral debut as soloist at age 11. Soon after he arrived in the United States to continue his music studies, Mr. Rodríguez was a finalist in the New York Philharmonic Young People’s Competition. At age 21 he made his Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut. As concert-artist he has toured Europe and performed concerti and solo recitals throughout the Americas. Venues in which Mr. Rodríguez has performed include the John F. Kennedy Center; the White House; and the Corcoran Gallery, and National Gallery of Arts in Washington, DC; Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Americas Society, 92nd Y in New York; and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.
As chamber music artist Mr. Rodríguez has been guest artist with the Garth Newell Chamber Music Festival and is a frequent guest artist of the National Chamber Ensemble. As collaborative artist he has worked with Denyce Graves, Jessye Norman and Plácido Domingo.
As conductor, Carlos César Rodríguez has performed throughout the Americas. In 2005 he was chosen as award recipient of the prestigious Georg Solti Foundation US fellowship for outstanding young conductors. With the encouragement and collaboration of Maestro Plácido Domingo Mr. Rodríguez became founder and coordinator of the Zarzuela Program (Spanish Operetta) for the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program with Washington National Opera in 2002. In addition he continues to be sought after as music director/conductor of Zarzuela Productions and of Spanish operas in the USA and the Americas.
Mr. Rodríguez earned his Bachelor’s degree with Clifton Matthews (Mr. Rodriguez’ mentor) from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, his Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music with Joseph Kalichstein, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, conferred summa cum laude, with Thomas Schumacher at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mr. Rodríguez is the Founding Artistic Director of RÓMEZ3arts (building community and inter-cultural awareness though music to Engage, Enrich and Empower ) that developed inter-cultural exchanges in Cuba and Costa Rica between 2016 and the present. He toured as Pianist in Poland, Italy, NYC, and Montreal, performing the music of Chopin, with The Isadora Duncan International Institute. He continues to be Music Director for WORD Dance Theatre, appeared with them at the Kennedy Center’s REACH in 2020 In MOVE! for the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and will appear with them again March 10, 2023 on the Intersections Festival in a new Realization of MOVE! He is a member of Levine Music in Washington, DC.
For more information go to CCR Press Kit Documents
Press photos
