Fisk & Romero: Two Guitar Giants @ Benaroya

Last Tuesday, Benaroya Hall was the scene of the incredible juxtaposition and commingling of two very different but equally impressive musicians. Guitarists Eliot Fisk and Angel Romero (of the famed Romero family) demonstrated that it is not an artistic requisite for an ensemble to blend so completely that the illusion of a single player is formed, as is the case, for example, with the Assad Brothers. The night prior to the concert, we had dinner with Fisk, who is a past professor and good friend. He explained that he and Romero have a very different approach to the guitar, but that they enjoy playing with one another and revel in their stylistic contrasts.

Their joy of performing and the stark difference between their approaches was distinct right from the beginning of the program. Fisk has an unpredictability about his playing, reacting with sweetness and then harshness, all the while maintaining an incredible wholeness to his interpretation. Romero is the quintessential classical guitarist, possessing a strong technical command of his instrument, pealing forth great bells of lush, timbral purity with absolute consistency. Fisk seemed the unmistakable genius, while Romero was the genial gentleman. Throughout the performance it was touching to observe how respectful Fisk was of Romero, allowing him to take and leave the stage first, and Romero’s jocularity, making smiles in the audience and gently teasing Fisk.

The program had a distinct form, bookended with duets, several solos by Fisk, and the core—the last piece of the first half and the first piece of the second half—featured solos by Romero. Romero’s late father, Celedonio, was not only a great guitarist and influence on his family, but also a talented composer, whose music reveals a great admiration and familiarity with the flamenco tradition, and on this night we heard two of his pieces played by the hands of his son. An absolute entertainer, Romero played with eyes expressively sealed one moment, followed by blatant showboating the next, emphasizing guitar technique as if it was just physical trickery to behold, and gazing out into the audience, smiling at one individual and then nodding at another.