There’s a simple way to curb the wild winds of a March still stuck in the snow – warm up by congregating with the sensational orchestral works of the Kingston Baroque Consort. And that’s exactly what Kingstonians did on Friday, March 28th at St. James Church.

Their season finale, Kingston Baroque Consort welcomed us to their production of “Baroque Celebration,” featuring the well-known works of J.S. Bach & G.F. Handel. Broken into two acts, the music cascaded from the church sanctuary, and bled into the streets outside; each note rousing the audience, and emoting us all.

It’s an understatement to suggest that the Consort is talented. Because as much as they are, the troupe is also passionate, riveting, exceptional and a host of other tremendous adjectives that still won’t seem to do justice in describing the orchestra and their objective to bring these classics to life to new audiences.

Tonight, the Consort features: Gisele Dalbec-Szczesniak, Andrew Dicker, Lisa Draper, Venetia
Gauthier, Danielle Lennon, and Julia McFarlane on violin; Eileen Beaudette on viola; cello/gamba by Jeff Hamacher; William Egnatoff on flute; recorder by Heather Schreiner; Katie Legere on bassoon & recorder; and Michael Capon on harpsichord.

Founded in 2021, the Kingston Baroque Concert boasts their devotion to “historically informed practice of music from the Baroque era.” The orchestra was founded by Katie Legere, Jeff Hamacher, Julia McFarlane & Michael Capon. Many of their musicians are “drawn from the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and the wider community.”

As an aside, a joy for this newly minted fan is the wide range in age of these performers; a testament that music should, and is, enjoyed by all.

We were warmly welcomed by Michael Capon, and given the evening’s festivities. A nearly-packed house, the pews are filled with anticipating audience goers. The night was called “Celebration!”, and it was. It truly was.

The program leads off with Bach’s 2nd Orchestral Suite.

From the first note that rang out, we were enchanted and enthralled. What strikes me during these classical renditions is the longevity of music that has survived hundreds of years, continuing to delight music fans centuries later. It isn’t lost on me that I’m as moved by Bach as I am by any of the music that was written afterward; the tale truly is as old as time.

As Bach fades, the orchestra fills in, and we were introduced to Handel’s Fireworks Music, which included Baroque trumpets for the “Grand Overture of warlike instruments.”

The piece itself does not come without some 17th-hundred century lore. The story is told that Handel omitted the string instruments against his will at the behest of King George, whose preference was only for wind and percussion. And as Handel was under contract of George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in London’s Green Park, he was obliged to compose the music as was requested. Furthermore, Handel’s woes would not end there – the musicians gave a full rehearsal elsewhere from Green Park a week before the official event, causing major traffic delays for the more than 12,000 people who paid and attempted to arrive via horse and buggy.

But within six days, the orchestral suite was performed as planned before a live audience in a newly constructed structure, featuring fireworks and cannons. The music would prove to be far more popular than the festivities themselves; the rain and soggy weather resulting in misfired fire displays, and due to which, the right of the pavilion managed to catch fire in the middle of the production.

After the performance, Handel would re-score the suite to include his beloved string instruments.

And tonight, the Kingston Baroque Consort included the strings as Handel preferred. And as we, the audience, revelled.

A terrific triumphant and captivating close to another scintillating season of music for the Kingston Baroque Consort. Watch their website for their 2025 – 2026 concert of events.

Web: https://kingstonbaroqueconsort.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonBaroque