Three gems of the Classical and early Romantic periods comprise this concert.  The symphony starts with Mozart's overture to his 1786 opera, "The Marriage of Figaro," in which a corrupt aristocrat is outwitted by his virtuous - - and more clever - - servant. The overture itself is as brief, witty, and brilliant as the Rossini overtures that would come a generation later.

Next, they present Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" for piano, violin, cello, and orchestra. The appeal of this work lies not so much from the emotional or spiritual depths of Beethoven’s other concertos as it does from its splendid formal beauty and in this composer’s mastery of a thorny problem: how to integrate a piano trio with an orchestra.

Finally comes Mendelssohn's beloved “Scottish” Symphony (No. 3). In 1829, Mendelssohn toured Scotland, even venturing out to the Hebrides, which resulted in the overture "Fingal’s Cave." Much of the lyrical, outdoors flavor of that piece is also present in this symphony. And yet it is also a serious, often brooding or solemn work, in part because Mendelssohn was moved by his visit to the home of the tragic Queen, Mary, Queen of Scots.

From the moment of his debut in September 1998, stepping in at short notice to conduct Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in place of an ailing Seiji Ozawa, Federico Cortese’s work as Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony was widely praised. Serving in that position from 1998-2003, Mr. Cortese led the Boston Symphony several times in Symphony Hall and at Tanglewood. His conducting of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly was particularly heralded. Additionally, he has served as Music Director of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras since 1999 and is currently Music Director of the New England String Ensemble and Associate Conductor of the Asian Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Other appointments have included Music Coordinator (in lieu of Music Director) and Associate Conductor of the Spoleto Festival in Italy, Assistant Conductor to Daniele Gatti at the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, and Assistant Conductor to Robert Spano at the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

Federico Cortese has conducted operatic and symphonic engagements throughout the United States, Australia and Europe. Recent engagements in the US include, among many others, the Dallas, Atlanta, San Antonio, New World and Louisville Symphonies; as well as many operatic productions including Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Boston Lyric Opera, Puccini’s La Boheme with Opera Theater of St. Louis as well as at with the Yale Opera program, and Previn’s Streetcar named Desire with the Washington Opera.