Russian soloist gets NY agent
NewsThe Leningrad-born violinist Philippe Quint has signed with Martin Wittenberg’s boutique agency.
Quint, 47, migrated to the US in 1991 and has made many recordings.
Wittenberg says: ‘He has built and maintained an impressive musical career over the last 25 years that rests as much on his many musical friendships as it does on his artistic qualities and sheer endless creativity and curiosity. In these days, where making happy announcements seems somewhat out of place in any context, it feels meaningful to welcome an artist who values honest human connection as much as I do. For this reason alone Philippe is a perfect fit for Wittenberg Artists.’
Why do you refer to him as “Russian”? He has been living in the United States for more than 30 years.
Well said and I would also point out that saying that he was born in “Leningrad” is another low trick to paint the picture of some Soviet personality and possible supporter of Putin and his atrocities.
Mr. Lebrecht, if you are going to try to do those sorts of things, please do them more cleverly, as even a teenager would be able to see through this manner of writing a headline, that focus more attention on a man’s origins and possible dubious loyalties than on the fact that this talented gentleman is now with a new agent and hopefully a bright career.
There are always two ways to see any situation and I think you would do a far greater service to music and musicians if you focussed on the positive rather than on lamely trying to create polemics or sowing doubt and intrigue.
He might retain his Russian travel passport -saves on visas.
There is nothing wrong with Russian musicians or people, per se. There are evil people in many countries.
If he is 47 today, he was 16 when he left the then Soviet Union. And he has lived two thirds of his life in the United States. The headline “Russian Soloist” makes zero sense.
It possibly depends on how musicians or their agents sell themselves. I used always to be irritated by the way Radio 3 continually referred to Percy Grainger as ‘Australian born’, although he left there at about 14 at a time when all Australians were UK citizens. Sounded a little like ‘not quite one of us’. On the other hand, Russians seemed more exotic, especially in the ballet world.
Once someone was born Russian remains for ever Russian…