Press: live at Opera House Concert Hall on 5 April 2009
6 April 2009
Australian Stage Online
Rita written by Lloyd Bradford Syke
… The first privilege of the evening was finding the Arrebato Ensemble as support. In presenting just three pieces, this fivesome again showed themselves to be, well, awesome, in passionately delivering progressive flamenco, at times showing very Moorish roots; at others, exhibiting a rock-riffing sensibility with orchestral manoeuvres in the dark reminiscent of early ELO or even Hendrix.
At the heart of Arrebato, is Greg Alfonzetti, an Italian-Australian drawn to Spain to study guitar, whereupon he was given to tears while experiencing its beauty, up-close and personally. His playing is similarly moving.
I should say that Arrebato’s repertoire is original, with Alfonzetti a key compositional force. His significant, musical other is Damian de Boos-Smith, a versatile prodigy from a high-achieving musical family steeped in classics. Smithy, on this occasion, confined himself to his main instrument, cello, with a dab hand on guitar to boot.
It was very much drummer & percussionist Lloyd Gyi’s night, with the resonant acoustics of the SOH Concert Hall well-suited to his dramatic style.
Dave Ellis was as solid a backbone, on bass, as ever and as upright an instrumental spine for which any ensemble could wish.
Andrew Poniris performed his customary feat of inspiring admiration for both his saxophony and harmonication. Brill!
