Opening Night: Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2

Program: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 Philippe Quint Violin Andrew Constantine Conductor Reading Symphony Orchestra This is how the season begins. Come feel it. Romance. Obsession. Beauty that aches. Rachmaninoff Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor known for his richly expressive, Late Romantic-era music. He is best remembered for works such as his piano concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, which remain among the most popular pieces in the classical repertoire. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 doesn’t whisper, it pours its heart out. Lose yourself in sweeping melodies, soaring strings, and one of the most intoxicating symphonies ever written. Link to Program notes coming soon ARTIST HIGHLIGHT Philippe Quint, violin Praised for his “searingly poetic lyricism” (UK Daily Telegraph), Philippe Quint stands as one of America’s leading violinists, captivating audiences with his “breadth of tone and passion” (The New York Times). With multiple Grammy Award nominations for several of his recordings, Quint is consistently recognized for his innovative performances of classical repertoire, advocacy for contemporary music. His boundless curiosity led him to create unique multimedia format programs such as The Muse, Homage to J.S. Bach, Charlie Chaplin’s Smile, and The Legend of Astor Piazzolla. Quint has performed with world-class orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. His dedication to contemporary music is evident in numerous premieres by today’s foremost composers, including Errollyn Wallen, Lera Auerbach, and John Corigliano. In spring 2024, Quint premiered a violin concerto written for him by Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen. This co-commissioned work which The Times, London called ‘exhilarating and playful’ saw it’s critically acclaimed premieres with the Calgary Philharmonic (Rune Bergmann), the Kansas City Symphony (Matthias Pintscher), UK Premiere with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Joana Carneiro), Brevard Festival Orchestra (Keith Lockhart), Cabrillo Festival (Cristian Macelaru). The German and Spanish premieres of Wallen’s concerto are forthcoming with the Magdeburg Philharmonic (Anna Skryleva) and Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia (Catherine Larson-Maguire). Quint will release Wallen’s concerto on the PENTATONE label in spring 2025, along with Lera Auerbach’s Concerto No. 1, composed for him in 2001, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra led by Andrew Litton. Highlights of his 17 commercially released recordings include Chaplin’s Smile with pianist Marta Aznavoorian (Warner Classics), Opera Breve with Lily Maisky, and notable Naxos recordings such as the Grammy-nominated Concertos by W. Schumann and Korngold as well as the world premiere of John Corigliano’s The Red Violin Caprices. Concertos by Bruch, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, Glazunov for AvantiClassics. As an active chamber musician, Quint has performed at major festivals including Mostly Mozart, Verbier, and Ravinia, and at venues such as the Kravis Center and National Gallery in Washington. Based in New York since 1991, Quint studied at the Special Music School with Andrei Korsakov and earned degrees from Juilliard under the guidance of distinguished mentors including Dorothy DeLay, Itzhak Perlman and Cho-Liang Lin. Philippe Quint plays the 1708 “Ruby” Antonio Stradivari violin, generously loaned by The Stradivari Society®. Spotify Playlist Coming Soon! PARKING FREE Parking at the DoubleTree Get free parking and round-trip shuttle to the concert when you enjoy modern comfort food in a relaxed urban setting at Cheers Bistro at the DoubleTree. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, your pre-concert dining experience will be one to remember! Book Reservations | Visit Website | Call (484) 577-8633 Make It A Weekend! Make a weekend out of your RSO experience. Book a room at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Reading and enjoy the best perks of Reading. Book Your Room | Call (610) 375-8000