(Photo credit: SSO)

Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Simone Young leads Schoenberg’s “Gurrelieder,” at Sydney Opera House in celebration of the composer’s 150 birthday.

“Gurrelieder” make its Sydney debut with soloist soprano Ricarda Merbeth, mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble, tenors Simon O’Neill and Andrew Goodwin, and bass Sava Vemić. They are joined by a chorus of more than 200 and an orchestra of 125 musicians led my Young.

This performance marks Young’s final performance with the orchestra before her landmark appearance at the Bayreuth Festival in July. Young will become the first Australian and first woman to conduct Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” in the Festival’s 147-year history. Young regularly appears as guest conductor with the world’s finest orchestras, from the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Performances take place March 15 and 16 at the Sydney Opera House beginning at 7 p.m. John Nolan will give a pre-concert talk 45 minutes before curtain.