Don’t miss: Wagner-Verdi choral concert by the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra

The rival legacies of classical pioneers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner both celebrate bicentenaries in 2013, and the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, along with several other musical institutions, is paying tribute with recordings and performances around the world.

Both born in 1813, the German Richard Wagner and the Italian Giuseppe Verdi each took operatic theatre in entirely fresh directions. They continue to inspire opera-lovers, and are known by millions of people, including many with scant interest in classical music.

The ceremonial evening held by the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra will enchant classical music lovers with Verdi’s Crusades and Pilgrims Choir from The Lombards on the First Crusade, a scene from Don Carlo with choir (soloist Stefania Bolos), Malcolm’s interpretation from MacBeth (soloist Adrian Dumitru), The Troubadour’s second act choir and the Azusena tune (soloist Geanina Munteanu) and third act, the knights’ choir, The Force of Destiny’s tune Peace, peace (soloist Iulia Artamanov) as well as Brindisi from La Traviata. Wagner’s fans have Rienzi’s messengers of peace choir (soloists Adrian Dumitru, Ionut Popescu), The Flying Dutchman’s Choir of the Female Weavers (soloist Iulia Artamanov) and also the Choir of the Sailors, Lohengrin’s Nuptial March and the first act of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg to look forward to.