Unique manuscript of Bach's cantata discovered in St.Petersburg

Assistant Professor of the St.Petersburg Conservatory Tatyana Shabalina has discovered an unknown version of Bach's Cantata 199. The authenticity of the find raises no doubts.

Until recently, experts knew four variants of the Cantata, but now it is clear that Bach composed at least five versions of the composition. Russia's NTV television reports that the music autographed by the composer was kept at St.Petersburg's Pushkin House for over 80 years.

"This is a real discovery to find out Bach's unknown autograph today and to restore a version of the Cantata unknown before. The composition is to be played at the International Bach Festival in Keten in several days," Tatyana Shabalina says.

In Germany, the Russian finding is taken as real sensation. It is for the first time that Bach's composition will be played in the composer's homeland from the music brought from Russia.