Festival City Symphony Brings a Masterpiece to Life in Mendelssohns Discovery Concert on January 24

MILWAUKEE, WI (January 13, 2026) — Festival City Symphony (FCS) will spotlight one of classical music’s most remarkable rediscoveries when it presents “Mendelssohn’s Discovery,” a free Saturday Classics concert on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.

The concert explores the extraordinary moment when composer Felix Mendelssohn, already celebrated in his lifetime, helped rescue another genius’s work from obscurity. After Franz Schubert’s death, Mendelssohn unearthed Schubert’s long-overlooked Symphony No. 9 in C Major, now known as the “Great,” and brought it to public attention, ensuring its place among the most powerful symphonic works of the 19th century.

That symphony anchors “Mendelssohn’s Discovery,” offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of Schubert’s final, triumphant vision. Expansive, emotionally rich, and structurally bold, the work stands as a testament to artistic legacy and to the composers who championed one another.

The program opens with Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides” Overture, inspired by his travels to Scotland’s remote islands. Evoking rolling seas and dramatic landscapes, the overture provides a vivid prelude to an afternoon centered on musical imagination and rediscovery.

“This concert tells a story that goes beyond the notes on the page,” said Carter Simmons, Music Director of Festival City Symphony. “It’s about how great music survives sometimes because another artist believed in it enough to bring it forward. That story still resonates today.”

“Mendelssohn’s Discovery” is part of Festival City Symphony’s Saturday Classics series, which removes barriers to classical music through free admission with a suggested donation, inviting both seasoned listeners and newcomers to experience world-class orchestral performances in Milwaukee’s historic concert hall.

Audience members are encouraged to arrive early for “Unlocking the Score,” a free, on-stage pre-concert talk at 1:30 p.m. led by music educator Lynn Roginske. The presentation offers insight into the composers, themes, and musical ideas featured in the program, helping listeners of all ages engage more deeply with the performance.

Concert Details:

“Mendelssohn’s Discovery”
-Saturday, January 24, 2026
– 2:00 p.m. performance
– “Unlocking the Score” at 1:30 p.m.
– Bradley Symphony Center
212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Admission: Free with a suggested donation of $14 for adults and $8 for children, students, and seniors.

Advance ticket reservations are available here. For directions and parking information, visit https://festivalcitysymphony.org/directions-parking/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.