Lied der Nacht
The Sydney Youth Orchestra presents Lied der Nacht
In a bold statement of artistic ambition, The Sydney Youth Orchestra conducted by Stanley Dodds, concludes its 2025 season with one of the most challenging works in the orchestral canon – Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 7, “Song of the Night.” This vast symphonic journey, spanning five movements and demanding extraordinary technical and emotional maturity from its performers, represents a crowning achievement for our young musicians.
Mahler’s Seventh Symphony is a masterwork of contrasts and transformations. Beginning in the shadows of B minor and moving through twilight realms of wonder and mystery, the symphony eventually emerges into the blazing C major triumph of its finale. Between these poles lies a nocturnal world of extraordinary imagination – two serenades titled “Nachtmusik” frame a central scherzo of spectral shadows, creating what Leonard Bernstein once described as “a journey through the night.”
The work calls for an enormous orchestra, including tenor horn, cowbells, mandolin, and guitar, creating soundscapes that range from the intimacy of chamber music to overwhelming orchestral climaxes. Under Stanley Dodds’ guidance, our young musicians will navigate this complex architectural masterpiece, bringing fresh perspective to Mahler’s vision of darkness transformed into light.
This performance represents not just the culmination of our season, but a testament to the extraordinary dedication and growing artistry of Sydney’s finest young musicians. Join us for this remarkable journey through Mahler’s nocturnal landscape, as we celebrate the achievements of our orchestra and the bright future of classical music in Australia.
SYO’s The Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Stephen Willliams, will join The Sydney Youth Orchestra for this concert presenting works by
- Saturday 6th December
- 7pm
- White Bay Power Station - Rozelle
- Tickets on sale now
Stanley Dodds is currently serving as the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Cavatina Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, has established himself as a prominent figure in the classical music world. He simultaneously holds positions as Principal Conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2014 and Chief Conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra as of 2024. Prior to focusing solely on conducting in 2024, he spent 30 years as a violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Throughout his career, Dodds has demonstrated versatility across various musical domains, from conducting opera productions to championing contemporary music through his ZeMu! Ensemble. His commitment to musical education is evident through his extensive work with youth orchestras, including directing the Young Concerts Festival and leading the Schools Orchestra Concert for the Berlin Philharmoniker.
Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7, “Song of the Night.”
Stephen Williams has established himself as one of Australia’s most versatile conductors, distinguishing himself with an impressive record of achievement in a variety of musical settings. In addition to conducting many of the symphony orchestras for Symphony Services International, he has conducted, recorded and toured with many of Australia’s finest symphonic bands and jazz ensembles. He has directed and performed with Australian groups at the North Sea, Montreux, Edinburgh and Monterey Jazz Festivals, has conducted concerts in Carnegie Hall and taken Australian orchestras, symphonic bands and jazz ensembles to conferences and festivals in the USA, Japan, Europe, the UK, Singapore and China. On three separate occasions Stephen has been invited to conduct symphony orchestras at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, the world’s largest music educator’s conference, and is the recipient of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association’s highest honour, the Citation of Excellence, an award he received in 2014.
Stephen’s educational foundation includes a conducting scholarship awarded by Symphony Australia in 1989, enabling him to study orchestral conducting under Werner Andreas Albert for three years, during which time he conducted concerts and made recordings with many of the Symphony Australia Orchestras. In 1994 he was awarded the Harry Begian Conducting Scholarship to study advanced symphonic band conducting at the University of Illinois under Professor James Keene, and in 1995 he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting and Research from the University of Queensland. Currently serving as Student Music Programs Officer 5-12 and Conducting Coordinator for The Arts Unit in the NSW Department of Education since 1999, he has been Music Director for the NSW Schools Spectacular, the world’s biggest variety show, since 1991 and is the founding Music Director of the Northern Beaches Symphony Orchestra. Over the last fifteen years he has been a conductor with Orchestra Victoria, serving as chief conductor for their innovative education program ‘On the mOVe’, and works as a freelance conductor and instrumental consultant, frequently called upon to conduct, lecture, and adjudicate both in Australia and overseas.
