As the festival reminds us each time, Enescu’s spirit endures through his music and the younger generation of musicians he inspired. Yehudi Menuhin (a former student and friend) poignantly described Enescu as “the most extraordinary human being, the greatest musician and the most powerful influence ever exercised upon me.”

Although it will take more than magic to transform Romania beyond the month of September, the 21st George Enescu Festival will no doubt enhance our appreciation of Enescu’s music.

This year’s festival inauguration concert features two of the greatest musicians of our time – conductor Daniel Barenboim and Romanian pianist Radu Lupu, whose international career is at its peak.  “Never could music come nearer to speech,” wrote journalist Joan Chissell in The Times about his London stage debut in 1969, where he performed Beethoven’s no. 3 Op. 10 piano sonatas. The program includes Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody no. 2 and Beethoven’s Concerto no. 4 piano for piano and orchestra. Lupu will also perform a piano recital on Wednesday at the Athenaeum.

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The festival will feature twenty-six Enescu compositions, including five unusual works (program details at http://festivalenescu.ro/calendar/events).

“LA VENEXIANA” Ensemble

Romanian Atheneum, 22.30, Saturday, September 7

Conductor : CLAUDIO CAVINA

“PRELUDIU” Chamber Choir of The National Art Centre “Tinerimea Română”

Conductor of the choir : VOICU ENĂCHESCU

Programme :

Cl. Monteverdi – L’Orfeo SV318

Soloists :

La Musica / Euridice – ROBERTA MAMELI

Orfeo – FURIO ZANASI

Messaggera / Speranza – JOSÈ MARIA LO MONACO

Proserpina / Ninfa – MONICA PICCININI

Plutone – RAFFAELE COSTANTINI

Caronte – SALVO VITALE

Apollo / Pastore I – LUCA CERVONI

Pastore II / Spirito I – ALESSIO TOSI

Pastore III – RAFFAELE PE’

Pastore IV / Spirito II – MAURO BORGIONI

More about the Enescu Festival:

21st George Enescu Festival

Music reaches the masses at George Enescu Square

The Festival through the years

The business behind the music