Orchestral Works & Radio Broadcasts

Radio Broadcast: Casting the Dice

September 8, 2024

Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s powerful work Casting the Dice for orchestra and narrator will be featured on KALW’s Revolutions Per Minute, hosted by Sarah Cahill. The piece, commissioned by the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and premiered under the baton of renowned maestro Cristian Macelaru on August 3, 2024, draws inspiration from the narratives of asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees. Tune in to 91.7 FM at 6 p.m. PDT in the San Francisco Bay Area or stream online at KALW.ORG.

Writer and poet Kimberly Gomes praised Casting the Dice as “orchestra-backed poetry” that is “moving, inspiring, and heartbreaking.” She also emphasized that it is “the empathy-building art we need everywhere.”

Caribbean Premiere: Symphony No. 2

January 18, 2025

On January 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. AST, Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s Symphony No. 2: Naa Okùnkùn Ti Òkúta Dídán will have its Caribbean premiere with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mtro. Rafael Enrique Irizarry, at the Pablo Casals Symphony Hall in Puerto Rico. This symphony, previously performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, has been lauded for its fusion of Puerto Rican bomba rhythms and classical symphonic traditions.

Chamber Music Performances

Performance: Danza Nocturno at SOLI Chamber Ensemble’s Elementos

September 17, 2024

Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s Danza Nocturno will be performed by the SOLI Chamber Ensemble as part of their season opener Elementos at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. This concert, headlined by Grammy Award-nominated composer Clarice Assad, will showcase Rodríguez’s distinct voice within the contemporary classical landscape. Danza Nocturno for clarinet, violin, and piano, praised for its vividly emotional depth and celebration of the Puerto Rican danza, will share the stage with works from SOLI’s 30x30x30 Project. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and marks the culmination of Assad’s multi-day artist residency in San Antonio.

NYFOS Presents “Learning, Fast and Slow”

September 29, 2024

On September 29, 2024, the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) will present “Learning, Fast and Slow,” an insightful concert exploring the journey of self-discovery through music. Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s composition Mamá María, inspired by Puerto Rican narratives, will be performed by bassoonist Steven Palacio with piano accompaniment. Curator Nathaniel LaNasa reflects on the concert’s theme: “When I was ten, I knew exactly who I was. When I was twenty, I had all the answers. When I turned thirty… I thought at least I had the right questions? The more I experience the world, the more I discover I have no idea.”

This event promises a rich tapestry of musical styles that examine the passage of time and the lessons learned at different stages of life. Works by Kamala Sankaram, Theo Chandler, Timo Andres, and LJ White will delve into themes of aging, repetition, and queer discovery, offering moments of clarity and reflection through music.

Vocal & Solo Instrumental Works

World Premiere: Mother of Exiles

November 3, 2024

Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s Mother of Exiles will have its world premiere at the Rubin Museum as part of the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS). This rhapsodic work, performed by baritone Gregory Feldmann and pianist Nathaniel LaNasa, draws inspiration from Emma Lazarus’s poem “The New Colossus” and explores the themes of identity, equality, and belonging. Written as a reflection on Rodríguez’s own experience as a Puerto Rican living in New York City during a time of intense racial tension, Mother of Exiles contemplates the promise of freedom and the challenges faced by those seeking refuge in America. LaNasa describes the work as a “towering reflection on the creation of spaces, both physical and metaphorical, where diverse individuals can find their voice and claim their right to exist.”

Album Releases

Album Release: New Enchantments: Fairy Tale Music for Bassoon

September 20, 2024

Cornelias Sommer will release her album New Enchantments: Fairy Tale Music for Bassoon, which features Iván Enrique Rodríguez’s Mamá María. Inspired by the Puerto Rican short story María La Cruz by Carmen Leonor Rivera Lassen, this piece embraces rich Puerto Rican narratives that showcase the emotional depth of the bassoon. The album will be available on all major platforms.

More info: Navona Records

Album Release: Polyglot

October 4, 2024

Clarinetist Eric Schultz will release his debut album Polyglot, featuring Rodríguez’s Sonata Santera and Críptico No. 9: DAV?THAN. The album provides listeners a deep exploration of Rodríguez’s Afro-Caribbean roots and innovative musical structures. Sonata Santera for clarinet and piano incorporates both bomba rhythms and rituals from Caribbean traditions, while Críptico No. 9 for solo clarinet delves into profound experiences of the LGBTQIA community. The album will be available on all major platforms.

More info: Presto Music

Bio:
Iván Enrique Rodríguez, the first Puerto Rican to graduate from Juilliard’s doctoral program, has had his music described by San Francisco Classical Voice, Boston Classical Review, and New York Concert Review as fiery, gripping, lyrical, and emotionally powerful.
For more information, please visit: ivanrodriguezmusic.com.

For more information, please contact:
Iván Enrique Rodríguez
ivan@ivanrodriguezmusic.com
787-603-4360

Iván Enrique Rodríguez