As the Enescu Festival draws to a close, the final week is set to captivate audiences with awe-inspiring performances from classical music’s elite.
Global Orchestras Take the Stage
The festival’s concluding week showcases acts from renowned orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre National De France, Manchester Camerata, Il Giardino Armonico, and Les Dissonances. The outdoor festival ambiance is further enriched with concerts happening at the Festival’s Square.
Stellar Performances & Collaborations
At the heart of the festival is the Great Orchestras of the World series. Here, audiences can witness the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra joining forces with pianist Martha Argerich, featuring captivating pieces from Enescu, Prokofiev, and Berlioz. Further enriching the lineup, the talented cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason mesmerizes with Kodály, Shostakovich, and Enescu’s works.
Continuing the musical journey, chamber orchestra Le Balcon collaborates with the Orchestra of the Romanian National Opera (ONB), presenting a concert version of Messiaen’s opera, Saint François d’Assise.
Under the guidance of the festival’s artistic director, Cristian Măcelaru, the Orchestre National De France showcases two memorable concerts. The repertoire includes exquisite pieces by Boulez, Dutilleux, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, and Enescu, featuring talented soloists such as violinist Augustin Hadelich and pianist Kirill Gerstein.
Concluding the festival at Sala Palatului, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, led by Klaus Makela, collaborates with renowned artists such as pianist Yuja Wang, the Romanian Radio Choirs, and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston, showcasing masterpieces by Debussy, Ravel, Enescu, and Mahler.
Athenaeum’s Diverse Concerts
The iconic Athenaeum serves as the venue for a myriad of performances from Manchester Camerata, Camerata Salzburg, Les Dissonances, Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and more. Attendees can also look forward to the By Midnight series, featuring talents like harpist Xavier de Maistre and the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra.
Concluding the festival’s offerings, George Enescu Square hosts the outdoor events under the Festival’s Square banner, showcasing Enescu’s works and his contemporaries.
For those unable to attend in person, the festival offers live streaming options on its website, with performances accessible for 12 hours post-event. Furthermore, public television TVR and radio stations Radio Romania Muzical and Radio Romania Cultural broadcast numerous festival concerts, ensuring audiences everywhere can partake in this musical treat.