Classical Harmonica

[bon@xxxxxxxxxx (Robert Bonfiglio)]

Great to see harp-l back up and running!

Happy Holidays to everyone!  Peace on Earth!


The classical end of things has been busy during the abscence:


On Sep 11, 12 and 13, 2002, I performed along with mezzo-soprano Lucille
Beer and the Albany Symphony with David Alan Miller conducting, the world
premiere of Richard Einhorn's "The Spires, The Cities, The Field," a
cantata in memory of the victims of September 11th.


........"Einhorn used a collage of phrases (translated to English) from the
Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy books to show that all religions stem
from the same source.  The music is evocative, mystical, mostly tonal and
quite beautiful.  Mezzo-soprano Lucille Beer sang the words in English with
lush rich tones.  Bonfiglio's harmonica seemed like a disembodied voice as
his lines interwove or punctuated." -The Post-Star

"The sound of harmonica can be as haunting as a distant train whistle in
the dead of night.  A deep, rich mezzo-soprano voice can be mesmerizing.
Put them together in a cantata in memory of the victims of September 11 and
you have a powerful combination indeed.." - The Daily Gazzette


I also played the Villa-Lobos harmonica Concerto:

"Like the piccolo, the harmonica is a small instrument which has no trouble
sounding above a full orchestra."

This was totally ACOUSTIC, i.e., no mic, so I can say that I had to blow my
brains out to sound above the orchestra!

He went on to say:

"Bonfiglio is that rarity: He can play spellbinding classical lines with
superb technique but also knock the socks off anyone listening with his
downhome foot-stomping Delta Blues encores." - That was nice.

Then turned around and performed with Eugene Symphony and then Wartburg
Symphony in Iowa:

Saturday, October 19, 2002
The Eugene Register Guardian
The Hult Center

"The soloist for the evening, harmonica player Robert Bonfiglio, then joined
the orchestra for two pieces. The first was the Harmonica Concerto by Heitor
Villa-Lobos, the eminent Brazilian composer.

Bonfiglio is a real artist and complete master of his instrument. For the
concerto, he used a sweet-toned harmonica that was effective in both quiet
and vigorous passages. His cadenza at the end of the concerto had to be
heard to be believed.

Anyone who doubts the harmonica's legitimacy as a serious instrument would
scarcely be able to do so after a performance such as this.

Villa-Lobos' music combines classical elements with Brazilian dance styles,
and Bonfiglio brought out its varied moods admirably. At times, he almost
danced along himself.

Guerrero and the orchestra accompanied him in fine style, entering fully
into the spirit of the music. Villa-Lobos used a reduced wind section so as
not to overpower the soloist, and the balance between soloist and orchestra
was always good.

Bonfiglio played two bluesy encores so as to, as he said, get everyone ready
for Elvis, which followed after the intermission. The full orchestra then
took the stage to accompany Bonfiglio in an "Elvis Medley," which strung
together a number of tunes associated with Elvis Presley.

For this piece, Bonfiglio brought out more and larger harmonicas, some of
them amplified, and he really cut loose with them. He howled, he growled, he
almost talked.

It was a remarkable performance by a remarkable soloist, and the audience
loved it. Guerrero and the orchestra joined in with great enthusiasm." -
Peter Bergquist

Eugene Symphony Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero, conducting
Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica


Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio

http://www.robertbonfiglio.com