Rodrigo – Becqueriana (1915)

María Rodrigo (1888–1967) was a pioneering Spanish pianist and composer, born into a cultured environment that fostered her early musical talents. She studied at the Madrid Conservatorium under notable figures such as José Tragó, Valentín Arín, and Emilio Serrano, becoming the first woman in Spain to have her opera performed. Alongside her equally intelligent sister, Mercedes Rodrigo, María left Spain during the Spanish Civil War, residing in Switzerland and later settling in Bogota, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. In collaboration with Pablo Casals, she co-founded the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. María Rodrigo’s contributions extended to various musical genres, including zarzuelas, and she demonstrated a versatile repertoire, from vocal and instrumental compositions to symphonic works like the Rimas infantiles suite, reflecting her German musical education and Wagnerian influence.

During her early career, Rodrigo served as a professor at the Royal Conservatory and held a position at the Madrid Conservatory until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Fleeing Francoist Spain in 1939, she and her sister sought refuge in various countries, facing challenges, including the loss of her musical scores during their journey to Geneva. Despite these adversities, María Rodrigo spent the remainder of her life as a dedicated music teacher, making significant contributions to the musical landscape of Colombia and Puerto Rico.