Keiser, Reinhard (1674-1739)

German composer. As chief composer to the Hamburg Opera, he composed over 100 operas, making Hamburg the most distinguished operatic centre in Germany.

A pupil of Johann Schelle at St Thomas's School, Leipzig, he worked in Brunswick from 1692 under Johann Kusser, whom he succeeded as chief composer to the Hamburg Opera in 1695. He was appointed Kapellmeister to the Danish court in Copenhagen in 1723, and returned to Hamburg as cantor of the cathedral in 1728.

Works Opera Basilius, Circe (1702), Penelope (1702), Der geliebte Adonis, Augustus, Orpheus (1702), La forza della virtù, Stoertebecker und Joedge Michaels, Die verdammt Statt-Sucht (1703), Nebucadnezar (1704), Octavia, Masagniello furioso (1706), Desiderius (1709), Croesus (1710), Fredegunda (1715), Die grossmüthige Tomyris (1717), Ulysses, Der lächerliche Printz Jodelet (1726), and others.

Sacred Passion oratorios Der blutige und sterbende Jesus (Hunold, 1704), Der für die Sünde der Welt gemartete und sterbende Heiland Jesus (text by Brockes, 1712); cantatas; motets.

Other instrumental music.