Wednesday 01.04.2026 klo 18.00
Somero Curch | Free entrance

Reinhard Keiser’s St. Mark Passion will be heard on Wed. 1.4. at 6 pm in Somero Church and on Maundy Thursday 2.4. at 4:30 pm as part of the Cantio sacra matinee series at St. Catherine’s Church. The work will be performed by the Turku Conservatory choir and soloists, conducted by Maiju Laurila.

German composer, conductor and organist Reinhard Keiser (1647–1739) received his musical education at the Thomas School in Leipzig, presumably from the cantor and composer J. Schelle. Keiser is best known for his operas, but he also composed a large number of secular cantatas and church music, to which he brought features of the stage music of his time.

The St. Mark Passion (c. 1717) being heard now is a large piece of music lasting just over an hour, which transports its listeners to the events of Easter. As the work’s title suggests, the text is based on the Gospel of Mark. The Passion was part of J.S.Bach’s choral repertoire, and it is obvious that the Emperor’s St. Mark Passion had a significant influence on Bach’s own, much larger, but still formal, Passion compositions.

Admission to the concert is free, with a programme of 5 euros (at the door).