From Reading Symphony Orchestra
The Reading Symphony Orchestra will open its 2026-27 season on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m., at Santander Performing Arts Center, with the Reading debut of acclaimed violinist Philippe Quint, who joins Music Director Andrew Constantine and the Reading Symphony Orchestra for an evening featuring two towering works of the Romantic repertoire.
Quint will take center stage as soloist in Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, one of the most celebrated works in the violin repertoire. The program will conclude with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Symphony No. 2, creating an opening-night program built around virtuosity, lyricism, and unabashed emotion.
Praised by the UK Daily Telegraph for his “searingly poetic lyricism” and by The New York Times for his “breadth of tone and passion,” Quint has established himself as one of America’s leading violinists. His career spans performances with some of the world’s most distinguished orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
For Reading audiences, the Mendelssohn concerto offers a rare opportunity to experience Quint’s artistry in a work celebrated for its combination of technical brilliance and deeply expressive melodic writing. Quint is also known for bringing a spirit of curiosity and innovation to the concert stage, creating multimedia programs and championing the music of contemporary composers alongside the classical canon.
Adding another extraordinary dimension to the performance, Quint will play the 1708 “Ruby” Antonio Stradivari violin, generously loaned to him by The Stradivari Society.
“Philippe [Quint] brings an extraordinary combination of virtuosity, imagination, and emotional depth to everything he performs,” said Andrew Constantine, Music Director of the Reading Symphony Orchestra. “Opening our season with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto gives our audience the chance to experience an exceptional artist in one of the great works written for the violin, followed by the tremendous emotional sweep of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.”
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is among the defining masterpieces of the violin repertoire, known for its lyrical melodies, demanding solo writing, and seamless conversation between soloist and orchestra. Quint’s distinctive combination of technical command and expressive intensity makes the work a natural showcase for his artistry.
The evening then turns from the intimacy of the solo violin to the full power of the orchestra with Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. Filled with sweeping melodies, soaring strings, and lush orchestration, the symphony embodies the emotional grandeur for which Rachmaninoff is celebrated.
Together, the works create an opening-night experience that moves from the virtuosic voice of a single violin to the expansive sound of the full orchestra.
Tickets start at just $25.00 and are available by contacting the Reading Symphony Orchestra at 610-373-7557 or readingsymphony.org.
About Philippe Quint
Philippe Quint is an internationally acclaimed violinist recognized for his passionate performances, innovative programming, and advocacy for contemporary music. A multiple Grammy Award nominee, Quint has performed with leading orchestras and at major festivals and venues throughout the U.S. and Europe. He studied at New York’s Juilliard School under distinguished mentors including Dorothy DeLay, Itzhak Perlman, and Cho-Liang Lin. He performs on the 1708 “Ruby” Antonio Stradivari violin.
Philippe Quint’s appearance is generously supported by the Gertrude Sternbergh Concert Fund of the Reading Musical Foundation.
About the Reading Symphony Orchestra
The Reading Symphony Orchestra brings world-class orchestral music to Reading and the Greater Berks County community. Led by Music Director Andrew Constantine, the RSO presents professional musicians and distinguished guest artists in performances designed to inspire, engage, and connect audiences through the power of live orchestral music. RSO musicians are selected through national auditions, with many also appearing with major American ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and New York Philharmonic.
Full season details at readingsymphony.org/upcoming-events.
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