For several years, the Cappella Sagittariana Dresden has stood for period performance at the highest level as well as sophisticated programme concepts. Dresden Passion is yet another remarkable dramaturgy presented by the ensemble's artistic director, Norbert Schuster: Marco Gioseppe Peranda’s (~1625–1675) rendition of the Gospel of Mark is the centrepiece of this recording. However, it is complemented by reflective figural music by Christoph Bernhard, Anton Colander, Johann Hermann Schein, Heinrich Schütz and Samuel Seidel.
This compilation sets a sound stage for showcasing the Passion within the versatile context of music at the Dresden Court of the late 17th century. Similarly to the well-known Passions, in which recitatives are complemented by choruses, arias and chorales, the individual sections of sung biblical text in this example are flanked by short spiritual concertos, motets and sinfonias.
