Clara Rodriguez Editor
Clara's knowledge of Latin American repertoire has caught the interest of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In turn they have included in their syllabus works by Federico Ruiz, Antonio Estévez and Miguel Astor, all suggested by Clara.
Clara Rodriguez has devised a series entitled Venezuelan Treasures for Piano which is available from Clifton Edition and distributed internationally by Stainer & Bell.
"Venezuelan composers have featured on my programmes since my first public appearance at the age of seven when I played two popular pieces arranged for the piano by Flor Roffé, "Arroz con leche" and "El Santiguao". After my studies in Caracas and England, I had the opportunity of delving more deeply into the wonderful repertoire written for the piano by Venezuelan and Latin American composers and the effect it had on the audiences, students and amateurs of my instrument. This music gives a great deal of enjoyment. Comments from the public and the critics are always positive and include recurrent phrases such as how sunny, happy, refreshing, and beautiful these pieces are."
Clara Rodriguez
Piano Pieces
Venezuelan Treasures Volume 2
Venezuelan Treasures Volume 3
"Rodriguez gracefully managed the panoply of pianistic textures, polytonality harmonic surprises, deep bass melodies and sometimes soupy nightclub chromaticism, imbuing each simple form with its unique élan. Throughout, Rodriguez, bedecked in her golden Venezuelan dress, elicited from her instrument Chopinesque lyricism and caressing tone. Amidst such a feast of delicacies, two stood out for their sparkling virtuosity and sheer sense of fun...".
Malcom Miller. Musical Opinion. London
“Clara Rodriguez again filled the Wigmore Hall on 27 June and the quality of the performance made this seem unsurprising. While producing the most beautiful and rich piano tones, her Albéniz pieces were romantically played, stressing the harmonic adventures (Almería), elusive reverie (Evocación) and making us aware of the echoes of ancient Andalusian cante hondo (EL Albaicín). The Venezuelan songs and dances were piquant, lively and engagingly played…a commanding performance of the Chopin Ballade No 4 Op. 52 as well as the Allegro maestoso of the Sonata Op. 58 No 3 with a fuller response to the very different characters of the Molto vivace and the Largo. The lyrical beauty of this latter was finely nuanced and in the closing Presto the rhythm surged most excitingly”.
Max Harrison. Musical opinion. London 2008