Philippe Quint’s childhood dreams were to become a world-class chess player, soccer star, or perhaps a cosmonaut (he was born in what was then Leningrad, Russia) not necessarily a professional violinist. But at 13 – he began playing at the age of four – he went to Moscow to study at a school for talented young musicians, and there he found “the perfect ground” to develop his craft and a path to a musical career. In the years since, he has performed as the soloist with leading orchestras and conductors around the world, is an active chamber musician, has recorded some 15 albums, and has delved into a variety of styles of music.
This weekend, he performs “Four Seasons in Buenos Aires” by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla in two concerts with conductor Lonnie Klein and the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra. His journey with Piazzolla’s music began “by chance,” he told Intermezzo host Leora Zeitlin in this interview at KRWG. Finding himself performing with musicians playing bandoneon, electric guitar, piano and bass, he decided, “I have to do this on a regular basis.” He formed the Quint Quintet, a leading “Nuevo Tango” ensemble – something he calls a project “for my heart.” His performances with the LCSO of Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons,” which has its roots in Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” are Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Atkinson Recital Hall. Listen here for more about Quint’s background and music, and that of Astor Piazzolla.
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