Cortona in Athens!
Free performance and mixer with classical pianist and Cortona Culture and Tourism Councilor Francesco Attesti

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music, Lamar Dodd School of Art, and UGA Cortona Director Chris Robinson invite guests to enjoy a live guest artist performance by Cortona Culture and Tourism Councilor Francesco Attesti, a renowned interpreter of Romantic and early Twentieth Century piano works, as part of the 2025 Spotlight on the Arts Festival.

Additionally, join all three areas for a pre-concert mixer and meet and greet with Francesco. Enjoy refreshments and learn about the opportunity to visit Cortona next year with the 2026 Dodd Cortona Experience  before attending an hour-long piano recital featuring works by Bach, Schubert, and more. Both events will be at the UGA Performing Arts Center. Date and details for the mixer and the concert are below

This event will have an Artist Meet & Greet before the recital at 6:30 p.m.

November 12

6:30 pm Meet and Greet

7:30 pm Guest Artist Recital

Ramsey Concert Hall in the UGA Performing Arts Center

230 River Rd, Athens, GA 30605

Register for UGA Cortona Mixer and Guest Artist Recital

Recital Program
J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)/F. Attesti; Air (from the Orchestral Suite n. 3)
F. Schubert (1797 -1828); Impromptu Op. 90 n. 2 in E flat major
Impromptu Op. 90 n. 4 in A flat major

F. Chopin (1810 – 1849); Waltz op. 34 n. 2 in A minor
Waltz op. 64 n. 2 in C sharp minor
Waltz op. 69 n. 1 in A flat major
Mazurka op. 17 n. 4 in A minor
Scherzo op. 39 n. 3 in C sharp minor

F. Liszt (1811 – 1886); Orage (from Année de pèlerinage – Switzerland)

Guest Artist Biography

Francesco Attesti (Cortona, June 6, 1975) is an Italian pianist of international acclaim. Among his generation of musicians, he is considered one of the finest interpreters of the Romantic and early Twentieth Century repertoire.

Attesti began practicing the piano at the age of 6 and gave his first concert at 11. He studied with maestro Sergio Perticaroli at the Mozarteum of Salzburg Summer Masterclass. There, Attesti was immersed in the Romantic repertoire, particularly the works of Chopin and Liszt. He continued to study with Maestro Perticaroli for several years in Rome, refining his skills and winning several national and international piano competitions, including: Ibla Grand Prize International, F.I.D.A.P.A. Competition, Città di Racconigi, Migliori Diplomati d’Italia, Rovere d’Oro, Città di Cesenatico. The Swiss Ursula Stroher Stiftung sponsorship for talented young people was conferred on Francesco Attesti from 2003-2005.

Attesti has served on the Cortona Council since 2019, most recently as Councilor of Culture and Tourism.