“…there could be no better introduction to the Latin American classical guitar.”

Micaela Kramer, Classical Guitar Magazine

I met Alberto J. Rodríguez-Ortiz earlier this month at a new music festival in Mexico.  He’s a fabuous human being as well as guitarist and composer.  So I’m thrilled to announce he will play for Second Sundays Classical Guitar Series at the Roger Smith Hotel at 4pm on November 8; 501 Lexington Ave (tickets $15 at the door, to reserve call 212-339-2092).  Alberto is among the most active contemporary interpreters and composers of the new generation of Puerto Rican musicians.

Among various international festivals Rodríguez-Ortiz has participated are the Festival Pa´Lo escrito (Mexico City, 2009, 2008), Festival Casals (Puerto Rico, 2008), Fiesta Iberoamericana de las Artes (Puerto Rico, 2007), Festival de Música Contemporánea and Foro de Compositores del Caribe (La Habana, Cuba, 2006 and 2004); International Guitar Festival of Puerto Rico (2000), El Salvador’s International Festival of Contemporary Music (2000); María Escalón de Núñez’s Guitar Festival (El Salvador 2000), Second Twentieth Century Music Festival (San Juan, Puerto Rico 1999). That same year he opened the concert series “Caras Nuevas”, sponsored by FAMA.  In 1997, he was invited as composer in residence at The Rome Festival.  Rodríguez-Ortiz has also performed in cities such as London, Porto, Paris, Vienna, Morelia, Orlando, Miami and New York.  In this last city, he made his debut in 1997 as part of the series “Música de Cámara, Inc.” He has performed extensively with the guitar trio “Matices”, ensemble that received the first prize at Puerto Rico’s Chamber Music Festival in 1994 with his composition “Invocando a Yúcahu”.  He has been soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador and the Symphony Orchestra of Bayamón.

His program is fascinating!

- Frank Wallace, Artistic Director of Second Sunday’s Classical Guitar Series

Sólo entre Bach y yo

Sonata no. 2*           Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Intro (Íntimo-Allegro)
Canción nocturna
Allegro violento

Partita II para violín BWV 1004           Johann Sebastian Bach  (1685-1750)
Allemanda                                                  arr. Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Corrente
Sarabanda
Giga
Ciaccona

Intermedio

Preludio, Fuga y Allegro  BWV 998          Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sonata no. 3 “Homenaje a la Sonora Ponceña y a Bach”*                  Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Adagio rítmico “Preludio en candela”
Scherzo (Presto) “Canción en gavota”
Aire y fuga…al fogón

* NYC premier