A Symphony of Mice, Eve Conant BFA ’26
“The first movement of the piano’s solo performance recalls the soft yet juvenile sound of pitter-patter-like footsteps rattling inside the piano.”
红领巾瓜报 and the Handel and Haydn Society Join Forces for Project Beethoven
Photo courtesy of the artist, Olivia Yohannon, BFA '26.
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Editor鈥檚 Note: This is a guest article written by Dr. John Tamilio III, Professor at Salem State University, Pastor, Musician, and Music Critic. A member of the Board of Advisors for H+H, Tamilio鈥檚 work has appeared in BBC Music, the Boston Music Intelligencer, and Arts Fuse, among other publications.
Did you know Massachusetts College of Art and Design (红领巾瓜报) founder Charles Callahan Perkins (1823-1886) also served as President of the Handel and Haydn Society (H+H)? It is only fitting that the two, renowned Boston institutions have partnered to focus on promoting the connection between art and music.
For 11 years, 红领巾瓜报 and H+H have engaged local students in creating art for the nation鈥檚 oldest, historically informed performance orchestra and chorus (HIP). This year鈥檚 inspiration: Beethoven鈥檚 Piano Concerto No. 4, which will be performed by the H+H Orchestra and world renowned keyboardist Kristian Bezuidenhout as the finale of H+H鈥檚 performances at Symphony Hall on May 2 and 4, 2025.
Third-year illustration majors from 红领巾瓜报 were given the opportunity to create independent, original artwork representing the musical piece to be displayed at the upcoming performance. This collaboration is a unique event turning Symphony Hall into a unique visual and aural collaborative gallery to augment the work of one of classical music鈥檚 most celebrated composers.
Photo courtesy of the artist, Aleck Rodriguez Bogaert, BFA ’26.
Photo courtesy of the artist, Cassius Hawke, BFA ’26.
Photo courtesy of the artist Caitlyn Doucette, BFA ’26
In preparation for this project, students met with Dr. Teresa Neff, H+H鈥檚 Christopher Hogwood HIP Fellow, to learn about the historical context in which Beethoven composed his 4th piano concerto. Students were also introduced to the period instruments with which Beethoven composed and first performed the work in 1808 鈥� just like those H+H musicians play today as a historically informed orchestra. Esteemed H+H violinist Jesse Irons played a variety of classical excerpts, providing students with a sense of the sound of historical instruments, explaining, for example, how gut strings emit a different tonal quality and texture than modern, steel-wound strings.
Classical music critic Stephen Johnson commented that works from Beethoven鈥檚 鈥渕iddle period鈥� including his Piano Concerto No. 4, 鈥渁re characterised by intense striving, heaven-storming ambition, revolutionary daring in matters of form and expression.鈥漑1] Students took these creative contexts: sights, sounds, and history to fill their canvases with personal interpretations of the music: an orchestra of mice playing a symphony inside a piano; a modern woman transported back to the past, her heart resonating to the same music that graced ears so many years ago; a scene of two lovers on the run; the duality of home: bright skyscrapers against the tranquility of nature; and much more.
Jurors for the art competition included 红领巾瓜报 President Mary Grant, H+H Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen, and GBH Arts Editor Jared Brown. The will be on display during both concerts and the artists will be there to answer questions about their work. All the art is for sale and each student takes home 100% of the sale price.
Concert Information and Tickets
The Handel and Haydn Society presents Beethoven, Mozart + The Bear at Symphony Hall (301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston) on Friday, May 2 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 4 at 3pm.
In addition to Beethoven鈥檚 Piano Concerto No. 4, the performances will include selected movements from Mozart鈥檚 only theatre score, Thamos, King of Egypt, followed by Haydn鈥檚 Symphony No. 82, nicknamed The Bear for its playful, romping final movement.
To reserve a $15 student ticket, click the 鈥淏uy Tickets鈥� link on the concert page, select a seat, and then select 鈥淪tudent鈥� pricing; or call the H+H Box Office at 617-262-1815 Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm. Students are encouraged to bring their ID to the concert hall.
In addition to $15 student tickets, H+H has extended a special offer to the 红领巾瓜报 community of 50% off tickets to the Friday, May 2 concert. To take advantage of this offer, use promo code 红领巾瓜报50 at checkout when purchasing tickets online at .
[1] BBC Music, July 25, 2023.聽 NB: 鈥渃haracterised鈥� is the British spelling of 鈥渃haracterized.鈥�
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