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3.29.2001 00:05
Tough talk from pianist Rodriguez
To listen to Santiago Rodriguez, the future of classical music is far from rosy.
The Cuban-born pianist was on the phone the other day, bemoaning the fact that "paper-pushers" at some of the major record labels are dropping their classical lines, and that solo recitals, such as the one he'll give tomorrow night in Kingston, are a dying art because "in most cases they're boring."
Rodriguez, 49, was speaking from his home in suburban Maryland, where he's lived for two decades with his Russian-born wife and two kids, a daughter who's now 21 and a son, 16. New York is a nice place to visit, an okay town to perform in, he said, but he "can't live with all those fire sirens going off."
"When I get off the train at Penn Station, I can feel my heart pounding," said Rodriguez. "It's not a great place to raise a family."
Hardly going solo
Rodriguez, who came to international attention after taking the silver medal at the 1981 Van Cliburn Competition, had plenty to say about the music business.
It used to be that solo recitals accounted for half the 80 or 90 concerts a pianist would give each season, or about 40 appearances. In Rodriguez's case that number has slipped to about 20. Some pianists report fewer than 10 solo dates a year.
But performers have no one to blame but themselves, he said. Nowadays, classical musicians tend to pick esoteric programs that may appeal to their colleagues, but chase away the masses. So presenters end up scrapping recitals in favor of acts like "belly dancers from Thailand."
"And more power to them," said Rodriguez, who often chats about the music he picks. "If that's what the audience wants, they have to sell tickets."
Sent from Cuba
The tale of Rodriguez's unusual musical upbringing is oft told.
Not long after Castro took over Cuba, Santiago's parents sent 8-year-old Santiago and his younger brother to this country to be raised by nuns. His mother sewed in his lapel $200 and a note asking the nuns to continue his piano lessons.
Her pleas were heeded. Two years later, Rodriguez made his debut with the New Orleans Philharmonic.
Even though it has been 40 years since he has lived in Cuba, Rodriguez has strong feelings about the Communist regime. Not long ago, he turned down an invitation to play on the island with a touring orchestra because of "all those who lost a great deal and who were mistreated."
Rodriguez's parents, who were Spanish, remained behind in Cuba for six years, eventually coming to the United States via Spain. At first they thought the revolution would be shortlived, hence the $200 to underwrite his musical education.
"Who would have thought after 40 years that that bum would still be there," he said of Castro.
A full load
Rodriguez manages to juggle a heavy teaching load at the University of Maryland and a full concert schedule, although he admits traveling has become so fraught with delays and other inconveniences that playing the piano "would not be too difficult to say good-bye to."
He also records on the ELAN label, which his wife Natalia started and still runs. Even though major labels are cutting back on their classical offerings because of poor sales, ELAN remains "solvent and profitable."
It doesn't take but a few minutes on the phone to realize that Rodriguez is a man who speaks his mind. He is gracious, but blunt. And refreshingly nonchalant, pretending he hadn't a clue when he was due in Rhode Island. Or was he pretending?
"Thanks for reminding me," he said when the date of the concert came up in conversation. "I don't take all this very seriously."
But while he joked about keeping track of his schedule and said he doesn't like to practice, Rodriguez conceded that he's lucky to be able to spend his life playing great music, pieces that continue to remain fresh for him.
"It's almost like starting over," he said, likening playing the classics to a marriage.
"You look at that face and it still looks great, even though everyone is a little worse for wear."
Santiago Rodriguez performs Chopin, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and others tomorrow night at 8 in URI's Fine Arts Center, Kingston. Tickets are
$15, URI faculty and staff $12, elderly and groups $10, students $5. Call 874-2627.
He also will give a free master class at the Fine Arts Center today at 12:30 p.m. and will be signing CDs at Borders Books in Cranston's Garden City shopping center between 6 and 7 this evening.
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