St. Matthew Passion

Bach's Masterwork

St. Matthew Passion

Saturday, July 25 | 7:30 P.M.
Sunday, July 27 | 3:00 P.M.

Soloist: 
Daniel Johannsen, Tenor (as Evangelist)
Caleb Woo, Baritone (as Jesus)
Mak Chi Hoe, Bass (as Pilate)
Chia Yee Yean, Soprano solo
Rachel Kwok, Soprano solo
Esther Ting, Soprano solo
Chia Wee Kiat, Alto solo
Chan Wei En, Alto solo
​Okawa Tan, Tenor solo

David Chin, Conductor
Malaysia Bach Festival Singers & Orchestra
The Kuala Lumpur Children Choir
The Petaling Jaya State Chinese Methodist Church Choir

Featuring one of J.S. Bach’s greatest masterpieces, St. Matthew Passion, this concert takes the audience on an emotional journey through the final moments of Christ’s life. Scored for double choir, double orchestra, and soloists, Bach’s monumental work creates a rich, immersive sound world that brings the Passion story to life. The text, drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, is interwoven with reflective poetry by Bach’s contemporary, Picander, and deeply expressive chorales that invite contemplation and response.

At the heart of the work is the Evangelist, a tenor soloist who serves as the storyteller, delivering Matthew’s Gospel with poignant recitative that guides the audience through the unfolding drama. The double chorus interacts dynamically, representing different voices—crowds, disciples, and the faithful—while the arias provide moments of personal reflection. Through masterful harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration, Bach creates a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience. Join us as we journey through this profound and timeless masterpiece.

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MEET THE ARTIST

DANIEL JOHANNSEN
Austrian tenor Daniel Johannsen is one of the leading Bach interpreters of his generation, renowned for his performances as the Evangelist. A prizewinner at major competitions, he has appeared at top venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonie, collaborating with conductors like Sir Neville Marriner and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Equally at home in opera, lieder, and sacred music, he regularly performs with premier ensembles and festivals worldwide. This season, his engagements include Bachfest Malaysia and performances across Europe and North America.
Website: https://www.danieljohannsen.com/
Instagram: evangelista_viennensis

(Start from 2:16)

CALEB WOO
Lyric baritone Caleb Woo has performed in opera productions including Chan Hing-yan’s Kungfood, Austin Yip’s Por Por, and Daniel Lo’s Women like Us, as well as La Bohème and La Traviata. A dedicated interpreter of sacred music, he has sung J.S. Bach’s passions and cantatas at Bachfest Malaysia and Thüringer Bachwochen. He serves in various academic roles at major Hong Kong institutions and is President of the Hong Kong Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Website: https://www.calebwoo.com/
Facebook: Caleb Woo

(from 2:45)

DAVID CHIN
David Chin is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bachfest Malaysia and conductor of the award-winning Malaysia Bach Festival Singers & Orchestra. He has conducted all major works by J.S. Bach and led ensembles worldwide in diverse repertoire, from Renaissance music to world premieres. A Senior Fellow of Bach-Archiv Leipzig, he teaches at Augustana University, where he directs the Bach Collegium and Bach Cantata Series. He produced the documentary Encountering Bach and translated Michael Maul’s Bach: A Pictorial Biography into Chinese. Holding a Doctor of Musical Arts from Eastman, he remains an influential performer, educator, and scholar.
Website: https://www.davidchinmusic.com/
Instagram: davidchinmusic

(from 32:30)

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ABOUT MALAYSIA BACH FESTIVAL SINGERS & ORCHESTRA

Founded in 2015, Bachfest Malaysia has become a regional leader in the music industry and a champion of J.S. Bach’s legacy, committed to making his music accessible to all. Home to the award-winning Malaysia Bach Festival Singers & Orchestra, the festival has toured major cities across Malaysia and performed at prestigious international festivals, including Bachfest Leipzig in 2024, earning widespread acclaim. As the only festival in Asia consistently dedicated to Bach’s music, it has premiered many of his major works in the region and engages in creative collaborations, such as the interactive family concert series Hello, Mr. Bach, inspiring audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds.

ABOUT THE KUALA LUMPUR CHILDREN CHOIR

The Kuala Lumpur Children’s Choir is dedicated to introducing choral singing as a fun and enriching activity for children, based on the Kodály Method. Through a systematic music education, young singers develop a solid vocal and musical foundation, fostering confidence, creativity, and self-expression. By nurturing their fullest potential in a supportive environment, the choir not only raises Malaysia’s choral standards but also shapes articulate, expressive, and creative individuals. Bachfest Malaysia is thrilled to have them join us in this concert, sharing their talent and passion for music!
Website: https://youngchoral.com/academy-the-kuala-lumpur-childrens-choir/
Facebook: The Kuala Lumpur Children’s Choir

ABOUT THE PETALING JAYA STATE CHINESE METHODIST CHURCH CHOIR

The Petaling Jaya State Chinese Methodist Church Choir was established in 1982. Over its four-decade history, the choir has performed a diverse repertoire, including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, Bruckner’s Locus Iste, Stainer’s God So Loved the World, and Tavener’s The Lamb. The choir regularly presents hymns and anthems during church services each month and actively participates in choir festivals organized by the International Christian Church Conductor Society. This year, the choir will serve as the masterclass choir at the 4th International Christian Conductor Choir Masterclass, hosted at PJSCMC.

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