There are certain guest conductors who send symphony orchestras soaring. The anticipation of working under their batons is, for a musician, not unlike an actor’s thrill at working under the direction of Steven Spielberg.

Spanish-born Juanjo Mena, one of the most distinguished maestros of his generation, is one such conductor and he steps to the podium Saturday night at the Music Center at Strathmore to lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a program of Romantic works by Brahms and Strauss.