"St. Matthew Passion" Lectures Series

Lecture Series 2

Christ's Passion According to Matthew

Saturday, July 26 | 4:00 P.M.
*Remark: This programme is open to non-muslims only.

Speaker:
Rev. Bishop Thomas Low
The Lutheran Church in Malaysia

Join us for "Christ’s Passion According to Matthew," a deep exploration of the Gospel of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ suffering, death, and sacrifice. As the theological foundation of J.S. Bach’s monumental St. Matthew Passion, this text shapes one of the most profound musical retellings of Christ’s final days. Through Matthew’s lens, we will uncover the spiritual depth, prophetic fulfillment, and emotional intensity that inspired Bach’s masterpiece. Whether you are a musician, theologian, or seeker, this talk invites you to experience the Passion story with fresh insight and renewed faith. Come and journey through Matthew’s Gospel in word and music.

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Lecture Series 3

Hearing Bach's Passion

Sunday, July 27 | 1:00 P.M.

Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Michael Maul
Musicologist & Artistic Director of Bachfest Leipzig, Germany

How can we better listen to and appreciate Bach’s St. Matthew Passion? Join Prof. Dr. Michael Maul as he guides us through the musical language, structure, and expressive depth of this masterpiece. Discover how Bach weaves together chorales, dramatic turba choruses, intimate arias, and the Evangelist’s vivid narration to bring Matthew’s Passion account to life. Through historical insights and musical analysis, this talk will deepen your understanding of Bach’s storytelling, helping you experience the St. Matthew Passion with greater awareness, emotion, and spiritual insight. A must for musicians and listeners alike!

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MEET THE SPEAKERS

Rev. Bishop Thomas Low
Rev. Thomas Low is an ordained minister of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM) and an alumnus of Trinity College, Singapore. He grew up in Holy Light Lutheran Church, Salak Selatan, interned at Taman Midah Lutheran Church, and previously pastored Luther House Chapel, Petaling Jaya, before serving as pastor of Bangsar Lutheran Church. Beyond his pastoral ministry, he is the Secretary of LCM, Chairman of Seminari Theoloji Malaysia’s (STM) Personnel Committee, and a council member on STM’s board, contributing actively to theological education and church leadership in Malaysia.

Prof. Dr. Michael Maul
Michael Maul is a renowned musicologist, Artistic Director of the Leipzig Bach Festival, and Senior Scholar at the Bach Archive Leipzig. He has authored award-winning monographs, numerous scholarly essays on 17th- and 18th-century music, and the acclaimed audio biography Universum Johann Sebastian Bach. His podcast, Die Bach-Kantate mit Maul und Schrammek, has been praised as "trend-setting" by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The Süddeutsche Zeitung describes it as a delightful and engaging approach to Bach’s life and music, sparking curiosity with every detail before leading to the music itself.