Bach's arrangement of the ‘Emperor’ St Mark Passion (1747) with arias by Handel

Johann Sebastian Bach not only performed his own Passion settings. One work that was performed in three different versions was a St Mark Passion, which Bach probably brought to central Germany from the Hamburg region. Its composer has not yet been clearly identified; for a long time it was attributed to the opera composer Reinhard Keiser. It is more likely that his father Gottfried Keiser is the author. It has been performed more frequently in Passiontide concerts for a few years now under the title ‘Kaiser’ Mark Passion.

In this concert, the Meiningen chamber choir, vocal soloists and the Telemann Collegium Michaelstein under the direction of cantor Sebastian Fuhrmann will perform the 1747 version, in which Bach also added arias from Georg Friedrich Handel's ‘Brockes Passion’ to create an impressive Passion pastiche.

BACHLAND THURINGIA

Johann Sebastian Bach spent half of his life in Thuringia. This influence can still be felt today: Thuringia is alive as Bachland thanks to many committed people who make music in regional ensembles or at home with their families. Their concerts enrich the festival and are a natural part of our programme.