I studied music with composers Fu Yuan Soong and Walter Hilse who taught me to make music that is entertaining as well as artful.
I’ve composed six full length operas and a musical most of which have been staged. These got some good reviews when the critics and the stars were in alignment (“gorgeous and rewarding”NY Daily News,”his music mirrors the profundity of Joyce’s words” Portsmouth Herald, “a developing talent” NY Times)
I have a large repertoire of recently-composed chamber works which reflect my reaction to war, the tanking economy, corporate greed, destruction of the biosphere, social injustice and poverty . This large opus is dubbed “The Nightmare of Reason” and includes sonatas for piano, double pianos, cello, viola, clarinet, as well as piano trios and string quartets.
Thousands of people have downloaded my new satirical opera “The Devil and George Bush” (“Hilarious” Red Dog Radio). It’s the first full length opera to debut on the Internet for mp3 player or mobile phone (or listening on the web) and was launched on October 10, 2008 during the height of the primary race – to get it go to www.devilandgeorgebush.com. Over 5,000 people have downloaded “Devil” to date and interest remains the same despite the exit of the great decider from the Oval Office. Characters in the opera include Bush, Mephistophiles, Faustus, Paula Passion, Tom Cruise and a giant ferret. Obama does a walk-in too. My new satirical work, “The Trial of George W. Bush” is also doing getting a good response.
I have won the Masterworks of the New Era award twice. I have a recording on the MMC label called “State of the Union” (“Masterful” Fanfare “About the only demonstrable good to come out of George W. Bush’s war on terror” JWR Reviews) as well as recordings in ERM’s Masterworks of the New Era series.
“Blues for New Orleans”, a double concerto for clarinet and piano was just released on the MMC label featuring Richard Stoltzman, clarinet, Paul Dykstra, piano and the Slovakia Radio Orchestra, Kirk Trevor conductor
I urge you to visit my websites: www.devilandgeorgebush.com and www.rogerrudenstein.com for more info, thrills, chills and freebies.
I live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with my wife, Marilyn, and cats, Marshmallow and Huckleberry.