Orgelstücke Aus Op.59 / Introduktion Und Passacaglia F-moll Op.63 / Toccata Und Fuge D-moll Op.129 (Hannes Kästner An Der Sauer-Orgel Der Thomaskirche Zu Leipzig)

Released by the East German label ETERNA in 1973, this recording features Hannes Kästner performing works by Max Reger on the iconic Sauer organ located in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. The album serves as a document of the historical relationship between the church—famous for its association with J.S. Bach—and the late-Romantic organ tradition, utilizing a monumental instrument that was central to the liturgical and musical life of the city during the GDR era.

Hannes Kästner served as the Thomaskantor and organist at the Thomaskirche for decades, and his interpretations of Reger are noted for their technical precision and deep understanding of the Sauer organ's tonal architecture. The design of the record reflects ETERNA’s commitment to capturing the authentic acoustic environments of Eastern European institutions, presenting Reger’s complex, dense harmonic structures with a fidelity that appealed to serious organ music collectors of the time.