[Harp-L] another rave review for the harmonica

["Robert Bonfiglio" <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

RIDGEFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Saturday, October 16, 2004
Reviewed by Courtenay Caublé


A few regular RSO audience members probably opted out this time because the
announced solo instrument was to be a harmonica rather than their usual
favorite, a piano or a violin. Well, shame on them. Their punishment is that
they missed out on one of the memorable treats I've experienced in close to
three decades during which I've reviewed these concerts.
Harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio is a (lamentably) rare amalgam of a
technically brilliant performer on his instrument and a warm and
unpretentious fellow whose combination of artistry, personal involvement
with the music he plays, and (perhaps most important) his obvious love of
what he is doing, makes him a true musical communicator.
In admirable partnership with Maestro Bahl and the orchestra, and responding
to the music with the sort of body language that reinforces the advantage of
live performance rather than distracting with theatrical gyrations, he
negotiated the work's alternating technical dazzle and flowing lyricism in a
way that may have enhanced its intrinsic merit.
But what followed was in a sense even better. Responding to the enthusiastic
applause, Mr. Bonfiglio confessed that traditional harmonica wizardry rather
than "classical" music had been his early love and inspiration. Then,
dedicating encore offering to his early harmonica playing heroes, he
produced a smaller, more ordinary harmonica than the one he had been playing
and wowed the audience with a couple of oldies that had most of the audience
involved and accompanying him with rhythmical clapping. Then, after
mentioning that he had been living in New York on 9/11, that he has since
played on a number of occasions for the city's fire fighters and has
listened in sadness to the sound of pipers in funeral processions for fallen
firefighters, he gave a moving performance of the hymn "Amazing Grace" -
first only the melody and then, on repetition, the melody with an
accompaniment suggestive of the drone of the bagpipes.
Finally, commenting that he didn't want to leave the audience on a "down"
note, he enlisted the orchestra's lower strings to strum a rhythmic beat
while he gave a combined musical and physical performance that had nearly
everyone, including the concertmistress and others in the orchestra, happily
smiling and tapping their feet. It was a hoot.