Christophorus Colombus

Reinhard Keiser war eine schillernde Musikerpersönlichkeit. Zahlreiche Anekdoten wurden über sein ausschweifendes Liebesleben und seine finanziellen Experimente überliefert, wenngleich die meisten davon in das Reich der Legenden zu zählen sind. Heute steht sein umfangreiches Opernschaffen im Zentrum der wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzung, galt er doch als der herausragendste Vertreter der Barockoper in Deutschland. Opernhaft erklingt auch seine ausladende Markus-Passion mit hochdramatischer Textausdeutung, mannigfaltigen Arien in italienischer Manier und einem farbigen Orchesterapparat.

The brief heyday of the Anhaltinische Hof in Zerbst (Saxony-Anhalt) coincided with the work of its court Kapellmeister Johann Friedrich Fasch. The benevolent and prudent Prince Johann August von Anhalt-Zerbst (1677-1742) expanded his court orchestra and engaged outstanding musicians for this purpose.

Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722), Bach's eternal 'predecessor' as Leipzig's Thomaskantor, has only been rediscovered in recent years and his true greatness has not yet been truly recognised. He was highly respected by his contemporaries, however, and not just as a musician: he had a doctorate, worked as a lawyer, wrote satirical novels - a polymath… His musical oeuvre must have been extensive, much of it is lost. It is therefore all the more pleasing that his magnificent Christmas cantata "Frohlocket, ihr Volker, und jauchzet, ihr Heiden" ['Rejoice, ye nations, and shout for joy, ye heathen'] has been preserved. It opens the programme on this CD and, with its instrumentation and duration of over 25 minutes, surpasses many a great cantata by his famous successor.

For anyone who likes to dip back into the old world of modern instrument and larger ensemble baroque performance, this is a good opportunity to hear Zelenka performed that way. There is some outstanding singing from the two female soloists, especially in the first duet of the Gloria, and the choir, in terms of old style large groups, is actually one of the best focused I have heard, comparable to the best recordings from St.Hedwig's, for example.

Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (1657-1714) is one of those composers who was forgotten by history. Originally from East Frisia, he arrived at the court of Rudolstadt in Thuringia at the age of 24 to serve as music director, remaining there for the rest of his life: the lustre of the court faded and the collection of over 2500 works by himself and others, amassed by Erlebach during the course of his life, was destroyed by fire. Thus this once significant composer 'from the Province' faded from memory.