REINHARD KEISER (1674-1739): St. Mark Passion.

Description: This forerunner of Bach’s great Passions exists only in two manuscripts - the majority of each being in, yes, Bach’s own handwriting! 50 numbers take only 63 minutes, so, in length, this is more like Telemann’s Passion compositions. Keiser uses a small orchestra but his striking melodic inspiration, powerful crowd choruses and vivid instrumentation remind us that he was a famous opera composer too. German-English texts. Jochen Elbert (tenor), Tanja d’Althann, Petra Geinter (sopranos), Harmut Elbert (bass), Parthenia Vocal, Parthenia Baroque; Christian Brembeck. Original 1993 release.