The "St Matthew Passion" for soloists, choir and orchestra (2006).

If the preliminary evidence of his "St. Matthew Passion" is any indication, Mr. Miller is a most persuasive evangelist, his atheism notwithstanding.

The "St. Matthew Passion," for example, emphasizes the guilt of sin-tainted Christians.

Here he applies that practice to Bach's most monumental creation, the "St. Matthew Passion."

And for the first few minutes "Matthew Passion," which opened on Monday at the Chernuchin Theater, almost does.

This scene also epitomizes the problems with "Matthew Passion."

"Matthew Passion" continues through Sunday at the Chernuchin Theater, 314 West 54th Street, Manhattan, (212) 868-4444.

Two painful months later in Berlin he resumed singing with Lieder-abends and a Matthew Passion.

In summer 1929 he sang the Matthew Passion at La Scala, Milan, to a very enthusiastic audience.

"St. Matthew Passion," performed at St. Thomas Church on Tuesday night, came closer than most present-day performances to the conditions Bach would have expected.