The George Enescu Festival comes to a close
The George Enescu International Music Festival is set to end on September 24
Leyla Cheamil, 22.09.2023, 14:00
The 26th edition of the George Enescu International Music Festival will come to an end on September 24. Great world orchestras have held concerts as part of this prestigious event Romania hosts every two years. The festival was launched in 1958 in memory of the great Romanian composer and violinist George Enescu (1881-1995). Although he was best known for his mastery of the violin, Enescu would say „There are five of me in the world of music: the composer, the conductor, the violinist, the pianist and the teacher. What I cherish the most is the gift of being able to compose. No mortal will ever know a greater joy”. Considered one of the highlight events in the world of international classical music, the George Enescu Festival this year brought together 3,500 of the most renowned artists in the world, as well as 40 orchestras from 16 concerts that performed in some 90 concerts.
In 2023 the festival comprised sections devoted to great world orchestras, recitals, Romanian orchestras and concerts for families and children. The London Symphonic Orchestra, the Göteborg Symphonic Orchestra, the Maggio Musicale Orchestra and Choir, the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are but some of the special guests that performed on the stages of George Enescu this year. Another important segment of the festival was the George Enescu Festival Square, which returned after a few years break with a series of concerts available free of charge in the George Enescu Square in Bucharest. Every evening, guests could watch performances of reputed orchestras from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as famous soloists and instrumentalists. This years edition was also the first to be directed by conductor Cristian Măcelaru. „The most important word that defined the festivals concept this year was balance – achieving perfect balance, which is required for the festival to open its guests to large audiences and carry on the tradition”, conductor and artistic director Cristian Măcelaru believes.
Not only Bucharest, but other cities such as Sinaia, Arad, Cluj-Napoca and Ploiești hosted concerts on the sidelines of the festival. Additionally, the George Enescu Memorial House in Liveni hosted a symphonic concert, including the famous Rhapsodies no. 1 and 2 composed by the great Romanian musician. And finally, the European Capital of Culture in 2023, the city of Timișoara, in turn hosted a number of concerts included in the festivals agenda. (VP)
