Malaysia's cultural stage expands with first-ever International Bachfest
Having toured Germany last year, the Malaysia Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra will assume a central role in the upcoming International Bachfest Malaysia 2025, to be held this July in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Bachfest Malaysia
Marking a decade of sharing J.S. Bach's music with Malaysian and international audiences, Bachfest Malaysia presents its inaugural International Bachfest Malaysia 2025, themed 'Bridging Bach.'
The five-day festival runs from July 23–27, with events at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) and Quan's Kitchen at Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown.
The festival features a line-up of concerts, recitals, lectures, and forums, celebrating the universal appeal of Bach's music.
Since its founding in 2015, Bachfest Malaysia has championed major works by Bach through nationwide tours and award-winning performances by the Malaysia Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra.
Last year, the ensemble earned international acclaim with a spotlighted appearance at Bachfest Leipzig, Germany in June. Since 1904, festivals in honour of Bach have been held periodically in Leipzig. A new chapter began in 1999 with the modern revival of Bachfest Leipzig, which has since grown into one of the world's premier celebrations of Bach's legacy.
Artistic director David Chin, who founded Bachfest Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, describes the 'Bridging Bach' theme for International Bachfest Malaysia 2025 as a reflection of the German master composer's ability to connect people, cultures, and traditions.
'His music is a bridge – spanning from his time to ours, linking shared human experiences across time and space,' says Chin.
In Kuala Lumpur, the festival, inspired by Leipzig's lead and Bach outreach, will feature a blend of sacred and secular concerts, jazz interpretations, chamber performances and more.
Supported by key patrons – including the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bachfest Leipzig, and the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry – the International Bachfest Malaysia 2025 festival also takes on a global dimension.
A highlight is the South-East Asia Bach Competition, which offers young regional musicians a platform to perform Bach's works. Winners will be invited to Bachfest Leipzig 2026, marking a milestone for South-East Asian classical talent.
Performance highlights include Bach's St Matthew Passion, featuring Austrian tenor Daniel Johannsen as the Evangelist, and performances by the Malaysia Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra.
Composer-pianist Ng Chong Lim will present his debut public performance of the Goldberg Variations, while concertmaster Bernice Ooi performs two unaccompanied violin partitas.
Jazz composer-pianist Tay Cher Siang and the WVC Jazz Ensemble will reinterpret Bach through jazz in the boundary-blurring 'J-azz Bach' concerts.
The festival will also be hosting a 'Bach in Asia' forum, gathering voices from China, the Philippines, and Malaysia to explore Bach's relevance in Asian contexts. A lecture series, including a keynote by Prof Dr Alex Tseng (Zhejiang University, China), will delve into Bach's work through lenses of religion, philosophy, and musicology.
Tickets, festival passes, and exclusive packages are available now, with early bird and group discounts until May 21. More info here.
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