Handel and Haydn Society's new artistic director, Jonathan Cohen, on building connections in Boston

Starting next year, Handel and Haydn Society will have a new artistic director when it steps on to the stage at Boston's Symphony Hall. After a three year search, the nation's oldest performing arts organization announced today that it has tapped Jonathan Cohen as its next conductor. Cohen joined GBH’s Morning Edition co-hosts Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel to talk about what's next for the orchestra under his leadership. This transcript has been lightly edited.

Jeremy Siegel: It's great to meet you. And congratulations on the new job. What exactly is the job of the artistic director, not just on stage but behind the scenes?

Jonathan Cohen: As an artistic director, I am principally responsible for conducting the concerts with the HRH organization. It's going to be absolutely fantastic. We've done some wonderful concerts together and we're looking forward to the future for that.

Siegel: While you were just saying that you were moving your hands around almost like you were conducting in the studio. For someone who doesn't understand the complexity of conducting and might see conductors on the stage but have no idea what's exactly going on, I know it's probably impossible to put into words, but what is going on for you when you do that?

Cohen: Well, I suppose on a technical level, I'm showing the beating of the time, but it's so much more than that. In a way, my role is to interpret the music and to inspire and to sort of connect with the public, and to really tell the story, I suppose. And I love that. It's what music-making is about.

Paris Alston: A critical role indeed. This is a big day for you, right? The announcement is just dropped.

Cohen: It's huge, in a way.

Alston: I imagine that must feel very exciting. What is special for you about stepping into this role in this city specifically?

Cohen: Boston has such a fantastic energy to it. I love being here. The public seems so, so enthusiastic about music, and I love H+H. The musicians are super enthusiastic, and it's just an enormous pleasure.

Siegel: You are 44 years old, one of the youngest artistic directors and Handel and Haydn's history. This is the oldest performing arts organization in the U.S. And orchestral music, orchestras, are old, it's a form of music that's been around for forever. Do you feel that it's your job kind of to bring a fresh perspective to the music the orchestra will be performing? And if so, how do you do that?

Cohen: Yeah, I suppose. In a way, it's a wonderful, venerable thing, the oldest arts organization. But it's only, I suppose, through constant innovation that this organization is incredibly vibrant. And yes, I'm always trying to invigorate with the music. The great thing about music, you know, is that it's a recreate of experience. Each each time we do a concert, we are putting fresh ideas and new energy into making music come alive.

Alston: Jonathan, I understand that one of the reasons you were chosen for this role is because of how dedicated you were to connecting with the community. And you mentioned earlier that part of your job is going to be to do that. And I also know that you're going to be spending six weeks each year in Boston to sort of help put down those roots. So what does that connection look like for you? How do you take it outside of the orchestra?

Cohen: Well, one of the great things about H+H, which I absolutely love, is the commitment to education. We have seven youth choruses and are constantly working with young people. So I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in and involved with that as well as a super-important part of what we do.

Siegel: And you're you're new to Boston, right? You're from England?

Cohen: Yeah, I live in London, U.K.

Siegel: And I heard today — are you headed on a Duck Tour after this interview? Are you excited?

Cohen: I'm thrilled. I've seen these wonderful duck vehicles driving around.

Alston: This is going to be your first time on a Duck Boat at all?

Cohen: What's it going to be like?

Alston: Mean, I'm not going to project my fears onto you. It's going to be great, though. Just be careful. But you're going to see lots of wonderful sights. What else are you going to be up to while you're in town?

Cohen: Well, I went to the Berlin Philharmonic concert last night, which was absolutely fantastic. And connecting and meeting some friends. Raphaël Pichon in town, who's conducting "The Marriage of Figaro," which is coming up this week. It's a very big deal for H+H, and it's just going to be a fabulous Mozart opera, which is at Symphony Hall.

Siegel: We mentioned that you're 44 years old, so you're young for this job, but you have a long career already behind you. Tell us a little bit about your history. I think one thing that maybe people may not be aware of is how musically adept conductors themselves are. They're not just people who stand up there conducting. But you yourself are an incredible musician. What's your history in music?

Cohen: I started as a child playing piano, when I was about 5 years old. My parents were both social workers, but my father was a very keen amateur musician, and my grandmother sort of scraped away on the violin bit on weekends. I started as a kid, and through school, and in the church as well as, choirs. I was a cellist and a pianist when I was in my youth.

Alston: And I'm curious, Jonathan, maybe a conception many people may have is that a classical music conductor may always be listening to classical music, but what are some of your other musical influences, and will we see any tinges of that at Handel and Haydn?

Cohen: Well, it's interesting with Baroque music, there's a lot of folk music elements, which are in Baroque music, which I love very much. I love listening to jazz as well sometimes. I'm quite focused on classical and baroque music as in my work. But music of all types is wonderfully inspiring.

Siegel: It'll be a bit of time before you're up there officially conducting with the Handel and Haydn Society as the new artistic director. When will that officially be happening, and what are you looking forward to in those months and years after that?

Cohen: It officially starts in 2023-24. We're going to be planning the future seasons as we go forward. There'll be plenty of absolutely fabulous music with the H+H orchestra and chorus, the fantastic chorus, We're looking forward to doing some very big and exciting concerts.