Javier Rodríguez was the solo singer in the ensemble of Ariel Ramírez, often singing Misa Criolla. He also has a solo repertoire of Argentinian folk music. His solo program contains a large repertoire of rhythms: chacarera, cueca, zamba, tonada, tango, milonga, etc.. Apart from the music of Ariel Ramírez and other Argentine composers, he sings his own compositions. Combining a superb folk voice, a phenomenal sense of rhythm and a special irradiation, he provides marvellous concerts.

CD Vientos de Hermandad, including Misa Criolla.
CD Tango che Chango, tango and Argentinian folk music.
You can listen to small parts with Windows Media Player.You can get a notion about the solo program and listen to parts of it.

 For more information or contracts: contact us

Javier Rodríguez was born in 1964 in Tartagal in the province of Salta in the north-western part of Argentina. He started playing the guitar at the age of eight. At the age of eighteen, he discovered the possibilities of his wonderful voice. However, his parental background wasn’t an artistic one and he started studying medicine. In 1989, he switched to a career in music. From then on, he sang in choirs, has worked as a director of choirs and has started composing. He recorded his first CD in 1990 as a member of the vocal quartet Canto Cuyo. In 1992, he started his solo career and won de Premio de los Andes as best popular singer. He made his first solo CD, Perfiles (1994), containing a combination of folk music, pop and ballads.

In 1995, the famous Argentine composer Ariel Ramírez discovered his qualities in singing classical folk music. He is the solo tenor in the ensemble of Ramírez ever since. Rodríguez performed the Misa Criolla and other Ramírez choir compositions, like the Misa por la Paz y la Justicia (Mass of Peace and Justice) and Argentine songs by Ramírez and other composers. He sang with Ramírez in many theatres all over the world such as in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, but also in the rest of Europe, the US, Japan, Israel and of course all over the South American continent.

 picture: with Ariel Ramírez, Ecuador, November 2002

He acted in several musicals, for example, in the leading part in the Argentine version of the musical ‘Les Miserables’ (Buenos Aires 2000). In 1999, he made a tour through nine European countries with the famous Argentine vocal quartet Opus Cuatro.

 Choirs in several countries invited Javier Rodríguez to perform with them the Misa Criolla and other Argentine works.

In September 2001, Javier Rodríguez successfully presented his first solo program in Holland. Press critics were extremely good. Since then Javier Rodríguez appeared on stage with 11 Dutch choirs, for instance in the benefit concerts for Argentina in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Delft in December 2002, 2003 and 2006.
He presented his solo program in several Dutch theaters, accompanied by the instrumental duo La Trama.
Javier Rodríguez will be back in Holland in April 2008 with concerts featuring both choir works and his solo program.

Javier Rodríguez recorded 6 CD's: Perfiles (1994), Vivo! (1997), Mixtura Viva (1999) and Vientos de Hermandad/ Misa Criolla algo+ (2002). Apart from solo repertoire, this CD contains the Misa Criolla. In March 2008 Tango, che chango was edited, containing folkmusic and tango's.  In april 2011 the Peace Mass and Navidad Nuestra of Ariel Ramírez: Misa por la Paz y la Justicia.

Misa Criolla/ algo +, Tango, che chango and Misa por la Paz y la Justicia are in Europe available via our foundation.

Critics:

• Javier Rodríguez is a famous tenor with Messianic appearance. His vocal performance is spectacular.... The tango 'Nostalgias', sung a cappella, is a sample sheet of his capabilities: passionate singing, a wide range, tender and then again violent, with a well-dosed sob in his voice (Noordhollands Dagblad, 18-12-2006)
• ...the exceptional contribution of Javier Rodríguez has to be mentioned. His clear timbre, his powerful voice and his delicate expression where necessary, make this lyrical singer a formidable surprise (Journal de Ambert, France, may 2005)
• The songs - about love, darkness, his native soil and the old Indians - were sung by Javier Rodríguez, an Argentine singer who travelled around the world to promote the music from his country. Rodríguez left his mark on the afternoon. With his clear and delicate voice, he enlivened the characteristic music. His songs gained depth and signature due to the excellent accompaniment on original Argentine instruments. (M. Sengers, Eindhovens Dagblad, 4/10/04)
• Rodríguez is able to evoke all possible emotions:  melancholy, nostalgia, pure devotion, magic, joy and sadness.(L. Van der Spek, Leidsch Dagblad, 11/12/2003)
• He is a great performer... He is the best Argentine singer alive and I take great pleasure in listening to him... I met him eight years ago and he has been my lead voice and we have toured the world together ever since.(Ariel Ramírez, Supl. Escenario, diario UNO, 12/7/2003)
• Javier Rodríguez, an exceptional interpreter because of the beauty of his voice, perfect purity and diction, together with his expressivity. (El País, Uruguay, 4/11/2002)
• I heard the Misa Criolla often and by several interpreters but on this occasion Javier Rodríguez outshined them. He is a very sensitive tenor who completely answers to the meaning of composer Ariel Ramírez. (Iosi Jarsonsky, MAARIV, Israel. 28/12/2001)
• They (Rodríguez and Morcos) have an outrageously fine ear for music … when he sings, he leaves you speechless …his voice is extremely colourful, like all tinges of the rainbow, from poetic pink to heartrending purple. (L. Van der Spek, Holland, Leidsch Dagblad, 27/09/2001)
• Tenor José Carreras contributed quite a lot to the fame of this Misa Criolla but tenor Javier Rodríguez doesn’t yield to his great colleague. Pure and without any ceremony:  what an emotion! (Hans Visser, Holland, Noord-Hollands Dagblad, 25/11/97)
• He enchanted his public with a recital of excellent level, leaving an impression like one of the greatest. (LA OPINIÓN, Argentina, Trenque Lauquen, 17/05/97)
• His presentations are a feast of good music and poetry (Diario LOS ANDES, supl. Fin de Semana, Argentina, 31/07/93)

Tour in 2011:
April and May 2011 tour Holland, Germany, Slovenia
November/ December 2012 European tour.
2009 december tour in Holland: Program of concerts with Misa Criolla and concerts with soloprogram of Argentine rhytms.
Pictures of tour 2006.