Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre

Composer of the Obligatory Piece of the Special Section
Obligatory Piece:
"Per la Flor del Lliri Blau"

Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre was born in Sagunto in November 1901 - the day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Despite losing his eyesight at an early age because of diphtheria, he began studying musical theory, violin, and piano at the age of eight. In 1927, he moved to Paris and began studying composition at the national school. While in Paris came to know such key musical figures as Ravel, Stravinsky, and Manuel de Falla.
In 1933, he married Victoria Kamhi, a Turkish pianist who would become his inseperable companion and colleague until her death in 1997. In 1934 he moved to Valencia and shortly afterwards composed 'Per la flor del lliri blau'. This was his most popular piece to date and won him an award from the Valencia Fine Arts Association.
He soon became internationally famous and toured the major European capitals. In Barcelona in 1940 he premiered his best-known piece, the 'Concierto de Aranjuez' for guitar and opera.
Joaquín Rodrigo took musical inspiration from the many European cultures. His work includes many important pieces for piano, as well as violin, cello, and flute. His repertoire for the guitar has helped establish it as a respected concert instrument.
From 1940 onwards, he received a constant stream of awards and prizes. He was a member of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Southern California, the Politécnica de Valencia, the Universidad de Alicante, the Complutense de Madrid, and the University of Exeter in England. His many awards included the Grand Order of the Cross of Alfonso X the Wise, the French Legion of Honor, the Grand Cross of Civil Merit, the Fundación Guerrero prize, and the Prince of Asturias arts prize. The King awarded him the title Marques of the Gardens of Aranjuez in 1991.
Joaquín Rodrigo died in Madrid on July 6 1999.