Search - Rafael Bonavita, theorbo :: Musica Moderna

A magnificent instrument in masterful hands

Hafharhrhr Amalmahay | Pasadena CA USA | 04/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The theorbo, for those unfamiliar with the vagaries and varieties of old instruments, is the king of the lute family. With an outsize body, lots of extra bass strings turning it nearly into a harp, and a neck extending into space like a musical giraffe, it's just a wonderful piece of baroque exotica. For all that, it sounds pretty much like any other mid-voiced lute enriched with the addition of quite a few low notes.



If you can get your hands on one, you'll probably spend most of your time keeping it in tune, what with all the strings and the primitive tuning pegs and it being an all wood instrument. Mostly they are considered curiosities to look at and kept in museums.



Lately, however, people have been getting ahold of them and rediscovering the old music that can really only be done justice when played on the original instrument by a master musician. Bonavita not only keeps his in tune but he actually plays like a virtuoso. You can practically imagine him touring feudal Europe from court to court where his audiences are astounded at the sounds radiating from this beautiful work of art.



Also highly recommended is his album of baroque guitar music "Sanz / Murcia", on a real baroque guitar rather than a modern classical. Fantastic, fresh, gorgeous."