Notes & Narratives: ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ (The Song of the Earth’) by Gustav Mahler

Introducing Notes & Narratives: Gustav Mahler’s ‘Das Lied von der Erde’ (‘The Song of the Earth’)

Conducted by Kyle Knox, featuring vocalists Chaz’men Williams-Ali & Mary Mackenzie

Date: March 22nd, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: The WYSO Center for Music
Price: $250/guest
Tickets: Buy Tickets Now

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the WYSO Center for Music as we present “Notes & Narratives,” a semi-formal benefit performance celebrating the intersection of music, storytelling, and artistic collaboration. This year’s program will spotlight Gustav Mahler’s emotionally profound Das Lied von der Erde, blending live performance with rich historical and artistic context.

Event Highlights

Cocktail Hour:
The evening begins with an elegant cocktail and socializing hour, featuring signature beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Mingle with fellow arts supporters in the inspiring setting of the WYSO Center for Music.

Part One: Narratives:
WYSO Music Director Kyle Knox will lead an engaging discussion on the story behind Mahler’s masterpiece, Das Lied von der Erde. Discover the emotional and historical inspirations that shaped this symphony. Deepening the experience, brief musical motifs and sections will be interwoven throughout Maestro Knox’s presentation, offering a taste of the musical journey to come.

Part Two: Performance:
The evening culminates with a full performance of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, featuring powerhouse vocalists Chaz’men Williams-Ali and Mary Mackenzie. This side-by-side performance unites the talents of WYSO’s young musicians with members of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, bringing Mahler’s emotionally charged masterpiece to life in an unforgettable collaboration.

Buy Tickets Now

Featured Artists

Kyle Knox – WYSO Music Director
In the fall of 2018, Kyle Knox assumed the dual positions of Music Director of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras and Associate Conductor of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. His extensive conducting credits include performances with the Milwaukee Symphony’s Family and Connections concert series, Madison Symphony’s Beyond the Score programs (such as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4), and numerous Madison Symphony education and community concerts. Kyle has also conducted operatic works, including Mark Adamo’s Little Women for Madison Opera, as well as Albert Herring and The Turn of the Screw with UW Opera.

Kyle is an accomplished clarinetist, having performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, Santa Fe Opera, and Philadelphia Orchestras, and he has premiered works by contemporary composers such as Osvaldo Golijov, Tan Dun, and Nico Muhly. A graduate of Juilliard and UW-Madison, Kyle brings a deep passion for music education and performance to his role at WYSO.

Chaz’men Williams-Ali – Tenor
Chaz’men Williams-Ali is an accomplished tenor from St. Louis, MO, whose passion for music began during his time at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. He studied under esteemed instructors Dello Thedford and Yvonne Crockett and further developed his talent as part of the Opera Theatre St. Louis Artist-in-Training program.

Chaz’men continued his studies at the University of Iowa, excelling in operatic and concert performances. His professional debut came in 2008 with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s production of The Gondoliers. Since then, he has delivered standout performances in roles such as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don José in Carmen, and Canio in Pagliacci. Chaz’men’s career has taken him to prestigious stages, including the Kennedy Center, English National Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, where he debuted in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg under Maestro Antonio Pappano.

A rising star in the classical music world, Chaz’men captivates audiences with his rich voice, dynamic stage presence, and heartfelt artistry.

Photo by Lydia Sek.

Mary Mackenzie – Soprano
Soprano Mary Mackenzie is one of contemporary music’s most gifted voices and compelling storytellers, enjoying a performance career spanning 11 U.S. States and Washington D.C. Career highlights include the U.S. premiere of Héctor Parra’s monodrama Hypermusic: Ascension at the Guggenheim Museum, a performance of Pierre Boulez’s Improvisations sur Mallarmé Nos. 1 & 2 for the composer’s 85th birthday celebration at the Miller Theatre, Elliott Carter’s Warble for Lilac Time with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the world premiere of John Harbison’s Closer to My Own Life with the Albany Symphony, and a staged rendition of Reinbert De Leeuw’s Im wunderschoenen Monat mai at the Bravo! Vail Festival with Le Train Bleu. A keen chamber musician, Ms. Mackenzie has performed with American Contemporary Music Ensemble, the Chameleon Arts Ensemble, Ekmeles, the Da Capo Chamber Players, Collage New Music, and the Talea Ensemble, among many others.

Leading roles in opera premieres include Sister Leonide (Mata Hari by Matt Marks), Despina (Cosi faran tutti by Jonathan Dawe), and Angelica (Cracked Orlando by Jonathan Dawe). Ms. Mackenzie’s discography includes five albums of collaborations with a bevy of modern composers. A WYSO alum, she later trained at the Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M., Professional Studies Certificate) and The Manhattan School of Music (M.M.). She lives with her husband Barry in Worcester, MA, where she enjoys hiking, cooking, and gardening.Her return to the WYSO stage is a heartfelt homecoming and a highlight of this year’s “Notes & Narratives.”

Reserve Your Seat

Tickets are limited for this exclusive event. Reserve your seat today to experience the magic of “Notes & Narratives” and support the next generation of musical talent.
Buy Tickets Now