Cortese named conductor of Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra

Oooh, we're having a Harvard day. The university has named Federico Cortese, leader of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and N.E. String Ensemble and former assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, to be the new conductor of the Harvard Radcliffe-Orchestra, effective July 1. Complete release after the jump.

FEDERICO CORTESE APPOINTED CONDUCTOR OF HARVARD-RADCLIFFE ORCHESTRA
Leader of Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and N.E. String Ensemble—and former assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra—to assume new post July 1

(Cambridge, MA)—The Office for the Arts at Harvard and Harvard University’s Music Department announced today that Federico Cortese has been appointed Conductor of the Harvard Radcliffe-Orchestra (HRO). Cortese assumes the post on July 1 following the 45-year tenure of Dr. James Yannatos, who retired at the end of the 2008-09 academic term. Cortese has a joint appointment in the Office for the Arts and Music Department, serving the latter as a Senior Lecturer on Music.

“We are thrilled with the appointment of Federico Cortese as the new conductor of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra,” said Jack Megan, Director of the Office for the Arts. “He is a highly intelligent, musically gifted and passionate conductor and teacher who will build beautifully on Dr. Yannatos’ rich legacy with the HRO. I look forward to an exciting new era for the orchestra with Federico's energetic and committed leadership.”

“Frederico Cortese is not only a first-class conductor and musician,” noted Anne C. Shreffler, James Edward Ditson Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department, “but he is also passionately devoted to teaching and guiding young people in their musical development and we are delighted to welcome him as a colleague in the Music Department.” Added Robert D. Levin, Dwight P. Robinson, Jr., Professor of Music, “The HRO is most fortunate to have Federico Cortese as its new Music Director. Passionate, articulate, and committed to the orchestra’s mission, Mr. Cortese will assure that the shining legacy of Dr. James Yannatos will be carried forward with vision and distinction.”

Federico Cortese has served as Music Director of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras since 1999 and in the same capacity for the New England String Ensemble since 2005. He has conducted operatic and symphonic engagements throughout the United States, Australia, Asia and Europe. From 1998-2002, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa. Cortese’s tenure with the BSO as Assistant Conductor was the longest of anyone who has served in that capacity; in addition to his annual scheduled concerts he led the orchestra several times on short notice in Symphony Hall and at Tanglewood, most notably performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Puccini's "Madama Butterfly." Cortese has conducted several prominent symphony orchestras, including Atlanta, Dallas, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and Oslo Philharmonic. Opera engagements have included, among others, Maggio Musicale in Florence, the Spoleto Festival in Italy and, in the United States, the Boston Lyric Opera, the St. Louis Opera, the Finnish National Opera and the Washington Opera.

Cortese has been music coordinator and associate conductor of the Spoleto Festival in Italy. He also served as Assistant Conductor to Robert Spano at the Brooklyn Philharmonic and to Daniele Gatti at the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Cortese studied composition and conducting at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome and subsequently studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna. In addition, he has been a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Cortese studied literature and humanities and holds a law degree from La Sapienza University in Rome.

Recently completing its 201st season, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra traces its roots back to 1808 with the formation of the Pierian Sodality, a Harvard College social/musical organization. By the turn of the century the group began to refer to itself as the Harvard University Orchestra and grew into a more serious musical organization that eventually became the largest college orchestra in America. After building a national reputation via tours throughout the country, the group joined forces with the Radcliffe Orchestra, and eventually became the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra in 1942. The HRO continued to improve in quality and reputation as it took tours to Mexico (1962), Washington, D.C. (1966), and Canada (1972). In 1978, the HRO placed third in the Fifth Annual International Festival of Student Orchestras. The 80s and 90s saw tours of the former Soviet Union (1984), Asia (1985 and 1988), Europe (1992), and Italy (1996). Since the turn of the last century, HRO has toured Brazil (2000) and Canada (2004). Currently the orchestra performs four full concerts annually in Harvard’s historic Sanders Theatre.

Comments

[Eric Lemmon]

This is hilarious! I remember he conducted for the NYU symphony orchestra when I was a freshman. A very old-school conductor, verbally abusive and intimidating. Our program wasn't so hot back then so we had wonderful things said to us, "I know you hate me, but I hate you too." etc. Needless to say the orchestra was incredibly demoralized after that and played terribly even though he was skilled with the baton. I hope he doesn't treat the Boston Youth Symphony like he did us, as it would be a great way to drive talented musicians out of the field...