Brilliant before Bach: Reinhard Keiser's Brockes-Passion

A few weeks before Easter, the Nederlandse Bachvereniging performs a different Passion in the Saturday Matinee. Reinhard Keiser was one of the best in the early 1700s, and his Brockes-Passion is full of drama and emotion.

From the stage to church and concert hall

In the 18th century, the Passion oratorio - a variant of the sacred opera - translated the Passion of Christ from the Bible via the stage to the altar. Barthold Heinrich Brockes occupies the highest throne among the poets who have dared to write a (new) Passion text. The expressive Der für die Sünden der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus combines poetic paraphrases of the Gospel with contemplative texts of his own invention.

The Netherlands Bach Society

The 'Brockes-Passion', published in Hamburg in 1712, enjoyed immediate popularity and inspired several masterpieces, including Bach's passions. It was right up the Dutch Bach Association's street, as they are including the very first setting of this text in their programme. The composer on duty is Reinhard Keiser: one of the most renowned German tone poets of his time, whose brilliant record as an opera composer is reflected in music full of drama, emotion and poignancy.