On 21 May 2026, Bocconi University hosted Mathematics and Music, a concert by internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Plano at the Aula Magna.

The event was organized by Professor Emanuele Borgonovo in collaboration with the Department of Decision Sciences and the Bocconi Arts and Humanities Committee.

The concert, offering an inspiring dialogue between art and science, marked the conclusion of “Maths & Music: Quantitative Emotions,” conceived by Professor Emanuele Borgonovo, the first course at our University dedicated to this topic.

Maestro Plano captivated the Bocconi audience with his touch. The New York Times wrote of him: “A wonderful clarity and full command of the most profound suggestions characterized his performances. Plano demonstrated polished virtuosity at a competition level, as well as musical depth.”

Roberto Plano’s breathtaking performance included works by Mompou, Ponce, Copland, and Liszt, as well as a composition by Professor Borgonovo himself, adding a personal, creative, and emotional touch to a memorable evening.

The event explored the boundaries between soul and numbers, mathematics, music, and art.

These connections date back many centuries, to the Pythagorean school, when Pythagoras began experimenting with sound and proposed that the sounds we hear—and the musical scales we use—should be based on harmonic ratios. He believed that the sounds used to create music should not be unpleasant to the human ear, or “hurt” the ear. This same principle was echoed centuries later by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who famously stated that music should never be painful to the ear but always remain music.

The evening offered a full experience of mathematics in the arts. The scenography, curated by Anna Ceppi—architect and artist—featured immersive paintings projected onto geometric schemes, entitled Pythagorean Harmonies, and based on Pythagorean proportions.