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 you 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.

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. 

Francesco 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, Francesco 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.

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

About the 2026 Dodd Cortona Experience
October 18 - 26, 2026 

Andiamo! Experience art and culture in Tuscany with the University of Georgia next fall. Enjoy art workshops, fine dining, and excursions at UGA's 55+ year-old Italian campus. 

Since 2006, the Lamar Dodd School of Art and the International Center in Cortona of the University of Georgia have co-curated the Dodd Cortona Experience — approximately one week of special, artist-led tours centered around the art-rich and historical Tuscan hill town of Cortona. Next October, the Dodd and UGA Cortona cordially invite you to join us for the 2026 Dodd Cortona Experience.

The program is designed for lovers of art, food, wine and the central Italian landscape and culture. The experience also highlights Lamar Dodd School of Art studio and lecture-based courses taught at the UGA Cortona Center, now celebrating 55+ years of the highest quality study abroad programming.

The week-long tour from October 18 – 26, 2026 will offer an art/studio educational component, as well as culinary and cultural exploration of central Italy.

Joe Peragine, director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art and professor of drawing & painting will lead the 2026 Dodd Cortona Experience, aided by Chris Robinson, director of UGA Cortona.

Learn more on our website and register for an upcoming information session on December 2.

Interested? Contact Grace Mercer at Grace.Mercer@uga.edu.