"The performance of a full opera by a youth orchestra is an absolutely remarkable and rare accomplishment of which I am very proud. Opera is a fantastic tool for the musical and personal growth of our students because of the rich and intricate musical and psychological storylines that weave in and out of the music in ways that are not seen in a standard symphony"  
~ Federico Cortese, Music Director

For six consecutive years BYSO has presented semi-staged opera productions:
The Boston Youth Symphony is the only youth orchestra in America to present a semi-staged opera performance. For the past five years, Music Director Federico Cortese conducted the Boston Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestras at Sanders Theatre at Harvard Universty in the following SOLD OUT performances:
2008: Mozart, Così fan tutte
2009: Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
2010: Mozart, Don Giovanni
2011: Verdi, Macbeth
2012: Verdi, Falstaff
2013: Verdi, Rigoletto

RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe Verdi

 From L-R: Anya Matanovic as Gilda and Weston Hurt as Rigoletto in BYSO's performance of Verdi's Rigoletto on January 20, 2013 at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.

From L-R: Rolando Sanz as Duke of Mantova and Anya Matanovic as Gilda BYSO's performance of Verdi's Rigoletto on January 20, 2013 at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.   

Above: Members of Handel and Haydn Society Chorus in BYSO's performance of Verdi's Rigoletto on January 20, 2013 at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.

Audio excerpts from BYSO's performance of Rigoletto to come soon!

FALSTAFF by Giuseppe Verdi

From L-R: Louis Otey as Sir John Falstaff, Neal Ferreira as Bardolph and Jeremy Milner as Pistola

From L-R: Anya Matanovic as Nannetta, Maria McDaniel as Mistress Page, Caitlin Lynch as Alice Ford, and Melissa Parks as Mistress Quickly

Falstaff cast and chorus

MACBETH by Giuseppe Verdi


The three witches: dancers Maureen Kelly, Catherine Ulissey, Laura Young


Louis Otey as Macbeth


Federico Cortese, Conductor; Mark Verzatt, Stage Director and the cast


Giuseppe Pastorelli - Consulate General of Italy in Boston and Federico Cortese.
In collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Boston, celebrated the 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification.

Click here for audio excerpts from Macbeth


" Mozart’s operas are a labyrinth of emotions. As I’ve rehearsed Mozart’s masterpieces with these young musicians over the years, I could not be happier to see them develop a deep interest in sophisticated operas.”
~ Federico Cortese, Music Director

DON GIOVANNI by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


Christopher Burchett as Don Giovanni and Kevin Burdette as Il Commendatore


Boston Youth Symphony, Charlotte Malin, Concert Master


Steven Sanders as Don Ottavio, Arianna Zukerman as Donna Anna and Maestro Federico Cortese


Final Act: The death of Don Giovanni

Click here for audio excerpts from Don Giovanni

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


Eric Downs as Figaro


Orchestra and the Cast on Stage: Steven Sanders as Don Basilio/ Don Curzio, Amanda Ingram as Marcellina, Rubin Casas as Bartolo, Edward Parks as il Conte di Almaviva, Joanna Mongiardo as Susanna, Eric Downs as Figaro, Sara Jakubiak as la Contessa di Malmaviva.

COSI' FAN TUTTE by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart



Click here to listen to Audio Excerpts