Supposedly this past New Year’s was the last one in which Honolulu would celebrate with fireworks, all mostly illegal. We live on the 35th floor and had a spectacular view of the aerials which popped up all over the city. Now that the City Council has passed a law banning consumer fireworks, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen next year.

In the meantime I would suggest that anyone who wants to see and hear pyrotechnics of the musical sort to come to our next concert, “The Starks Go for Baroque.” Next Thursday, January 13th at 9 am, you can tune in to Hawaii Public Radio, KHPR-FM, 88.1 to hear Georgine and Darel Stark talk about their upcoming concert.

There are three blockbuster pieces on the program: Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” Bach, “Cantata 51” and Handel, “Gloria.” The Vivaldi is a famous set of four violin concertos (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), published in 1725. Vivaldi was known as the “Red Priest,” because of his red hair, and he had to have been a virtuoso violinist to have written this brilliant work.  I read online that “King Louis XV took a liking to ‘Spring’ and ordered it to be performed at the most unexpected moments” (!) I expect Darel’s performance to be no less than spectacular and stunning.

Bach’s Cantata 51, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, is a solo cantata for soprano and trumpet, plus strings. This piece will really showcase Georgine’s agility and virtuosity, especially in the final movement.  Bach would have used a boy to sing this demanding work, since females were not allowed in the choir loft! There is a two-octave range, from middle C to high C.

Handel’s “Gloria” was only rediscovered at London’s Royal Academy of Music in 2001 by Professor Hans Joachim Marx, who said, “I was very fortunate to find this music. It is for every scholar something very special which happens maybe only once or twice in a lifetime. The music is very virtuosic, very expressive and full of effects.” For sopranos, it is considered essential repertoire. Carl and I were fortunate to hear Emma Kirkby, the world’s leading early soprano, sing this work at the Stour Early Music Festival in Kent, England, a few years ago.

The Bach Chamber Orchestra will be performing in this brilliant concert, which will be “over the top” and not to be missed!