Daniel Rodriguez Media Archives

  New York, December 4, 2013

The New York Tenors return to Carnegie Hall with a new Christmas show

 New York,  December 19, 2012
The New York Tenors Christmas concert at Carnegie Hall

It was amazing to be back at Carnegie hall last night. Carnegie hall is a place that has always meant success to me as a singer. I am sure that the music world has many wonderful venues that represent "the next level" for a musician, but for me it has always been Carnegie. From the first time I walked into the building at 16 and sang in one of the studios, I felt as though I had begun a journey that would guide my entire life. I was right, and last night I returned to the place where I took a step in the direction that I travel today. Thank you to all who have shared parts of this journey. My wife, my children, my family and my friends. Daniel

2011 - 2008 Christmas in the Netherlands

Click arrow below to play "Benedictus" duet with Marla and Daniel

From "Amazing Grace" CD

 

Daniel & Marla with members of Hineni Symphony Orchestra, Martin Zonnenberg & wife, Lubertus Leutscher

2008 Sharon Kips, Dutch Idol winner performs with Daniel

Circle of Lights" 2004 

Daniel performed at the annual "Circle of Lights" Indiana Nov 27, 2004

A crowd of over 100,000, also performing was Sandi Patty vocalist.

Indianapolis 2004 & Baltimore 2005

Daniel is host and performer

Dear Friends,

 Some have asked me to give an insight to what is involved with hosting a show like the recent very successful "Holiday Spectacular" with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. "Although I was thrilled to be asked to host, I really wasn't sure what was expected of me. So I was told I  just needed to sing, dance and be funny. Well singing is easy. I've done that all my life and we found out in rehearsal that when I dance it's very funny." This was actually my opening statement at the holiday show and it was not so far from the truth. I had some prior experience from the 26 shows I hosted in Indianapolis last December but every show is different and this was a whole new city and cast of players.

 I arrived in Baltimore on Monday the 10th and was to open the show on Friday the 16th so there was no time to waste. I began rehearsals and working on music, dialog and review of the dance number I would revisit with the very fun and talented Gwendolyn Jones. I suppose the reason people think I work so hard on projects is because I really do. I start to learn new music for concerts as soon as I can because I never want to slow a project down by not being prepared before hand. I learned this the hard way. I don't read music as well as I would like, and one time, because of my crazy schedule, I waited till the last minute to work on my music and felt terrible that I held up rehearsals a few hours while I played catch up. So when I arrived for the first day of practice in Baltimore, I already knew my music and felt confident that I would be able to have my script memorized by opening night.

 Like all new works there are always revisions. Needless to say I had new lines and rewrites all week long. Finally opening night and all was great. My dear friends Bon and George were in the audience to root me on and all went well till the second half. I was standing stage right and watching the amazing tap dancer, Karen Williams, do her thing. I greeted her as she came off stage and told her what an amazing job she had just done. Then watched as the stage was silent. I wondered to myself what was next and why was there such a long pause. When I saw Gwendolyn coming out from stage left my heart dropped as I realized I was supposed to be out on stage for the start of our "Timeless To Me" number. She was such a pro and began by saying, "Daniel where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!!" I was so happy to be working with a pro and thanked her profusely for saving my butt. All n all the show was a great success and I have bragging rights as the host of the first "Holiday Spectacular."

 I guess you can say that being part of a company is hard enough. Hosting and being on the front line can be nerve racking but we all do our very best and perform to the best of our abilities. ~Daniel

Yuletide Christmas concert series December 3 through December 23.  

 Left: Sharon was there to enjoy the concerts.             Right: former police officer meets Daniel

Gwendolyn Jones won the audience as Mrs. Claus

Final bows in Baltimore

A very Santa meet & greet!

Cue the Santas: BSO stages jolly holiday show

By Tim Smith, Sun Music Critic, December 20, 2005

Meyerhoff Symphony Hall could become the Radio City Music Hall of the Mid-Atlantic.

All right, maybe that's too much of a stretch. But the continuously expanding chorus line of tap-dancing Santas that brings down the curtain on the first half of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's new "Holiday Spectacular" does have the kick of a vintage Rockettes routine.

If all goes well, it's a sight that will be repeated year after year.

For this inaugural "Spectacular," the Meyerhoff stage has been festively transformed with billowy curtains and a surprisingly attractive balcony built along the rear wall to hold brass and percussion players; the lobby, too, has received ample decoration.

The BSO is sharing the bill with a large cast of local and guest talent. Among the latter are vocalist Daniel Rodriguez (the former New York City policeman who is enjoying a burgeoning singing career) and Fred Garbo's Inflatable Theater Co. (an amusingly updated version of the kind of physical entertainment seen on old TV variety shows).

Patterned after the Indianapolis Symphony's enormously successful "Yuletide Celebration," this is one of the most ambitious projects the BSO has tackled. Whether it becomes an annual cash-cow, as in

Indianapolis, remains to be seen, but box-office response has been strong enough to suggest that folks here are in the mood and the market for a holiday extravaganza.

If anyone can make this thing fly as an annual attraction, it's the BSO's (and the Indianapolis Symphony's) principal pops conductor, Jack Everly, one of the best hires the orchestra has made. He supervised this inaugural venture at the Meyerhoff, wrote many of the colorful orchestra arrangements and plans to conduct it next year. David Briskin is on the podium for the 2005 show.

Judging by what I caught of the dress rehearsal, this is, as usual with an Everly product, a thoroughly professional-looking and -sounding vehicle.

There's just enough Scrooge in me to make me squirm at some of the wholesomeness onstage, but anyone seeking a hearty dose of seasonal spirit should feel well-rewarded.

And for those participating in the great (if absurd) "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" debate, note that the production doesn't shy away from using the "C"-word, or even the "J.C." words (in traditional carols).

From "The Christmas Song" to "Winter Wonderland," to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" to "O Holy Night," the program touches just about all the bases. There's even a Hanukkah number in the mix.

2002 Christmas Candlelight Services at the Crystal Cathedral

Community Mayors Children's event

2002 Christmas program

JFK International Airport became the site of a spectacular holiday party sponsored by Community Mayors for 6,000 school children from the New York City Public School System.  Macy's renowned Santa arrived via a Delta Airliner to greet the boys and girls and over 1000 volunteers.  Chief Mayor, the Honorable Shelley Aprea said, "I've been a part of Operation Santa Claus for over two decades. Just seeing the reaction of the children at the sight of Santa warms all of our hearts every year.

At airport during Community Mayor's Christmas event for the children

New York Broadway tree lighting 2001

Performances by NYPD's Daniel Rodriguez, and Michael McElroy, with the Broadway Inspirational voices, were joined by cast and company members from virtually every Broadway and Off Broadway show to celebrate and share in the joy of the holiday season when they flipped the switch to light the 2001 Broadway Holiday Tree. The ceremony took place between shows on Wednesday, December 12, at 5:15pm in Duffy Square (Broadway and 46th Street).  The event was free and open to the public. The Broadway Holiday Tree was established to celebrate the joy of the season and to honor those we have lost in the past year. This year's ceremony will have added resonance since the attacks of 9/11 have had a great effect on those who live and work in the theatre district.

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