The San Antonio Symphony has invited guest violinist Philippe Quint for its next performance. Quint was born in Leningrad, Russia, to a musical family and immigrated to the United States in 1991.
He earned multiple degrees at the Juilliard School in New York City. Quint will be in San Antonio this weekend to play Mendelssohn’s "Violin Concerto" with the San Antonio Symphony.
"I would guess that for Mendelssohn it was quite a risky and daring venture," Quint said. "Luckily for Mendelssohn it was so well received at the premiere that the concerto immediately took off into the world of major violin repertoire."
Quint speaks highly of the concerto, and details what makes this violin concerto unlike its predecessors.
"The Mendelssohn concerto at that time was absolutely revolutionary with a breakout from traditional structures, breakout from traditional harmonies, taking it to an extreme," he said.
I asked him what he thought made up a great concerto.
"The great thing about a work for me is if you leave the concert hall still humming the melodies," Quint said. "And Mendelssohn certainly provides that. It’s very flashy, it’s very happy, it has a tremendous ending, so basically it’s one of those works that leaves with a great amount of very positive energy."
Quint said he carries his muse with him.
"My violin is definitely a specific muse," he said. "It is a 1708 Antonio Stradivari violin."
You can hear that priceless violin on Friday and Saturday night at the Majestic Theater.
- Tickets and more information at: www.majesticempire.com
- Learn more about Philippe at: www.philippequint.com
