One young boy made visitors and musicians laugh at a concert in Boston with his admiration for classical music. The “Handel and Haydn Society” had finished their performance of the Maurerischen Funeral Music by Mozart when a child loudly said “Wow!” called. First there was laughter and then applause – probably for the enthusiastic young fan and the musicians alike.
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The orchestra was so impressed by the statement that it started a search: “Do you know the ‘Wow’ kid?” Asked David Snead, President of the Handel and Haydn Society. It gave him one of the most wonderful moments he has ever experienced in a concert hall.
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The search was successful: The “wow” child is nine-year-old Ronan Mattin from New Hampshire, who had attended the concert with his grandfather Stephen Mattin. Grandfather’s sister-in-law found out about the orchestra’s search and got in touch.
Grandfather Stephen said his grandson was a huge music fan. Ronan has an autistic disorder and usually mostly communicates non-verbally. “I can count on one hand how often he has ever spontaneously expressed what he feels,” said Stephen Mattin the broadcaster WGBH.
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Orchestra conductor Snead now wants to get in touch with Ronan and conductor Harry Christophers. Ronan and his family will be invited to come back to Boston to kick off the new concert season in October. Then Mozart is also on the program. More “Wows!” are therefore not excluded.
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