BUCHAREST, RO — September 26, 2023 — The “George Enescu” International Festival concluded its 26th edition on September 24th with a magnificent performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, led by conductor Klaus Makela, at the Palace Hall in Bucharest.
This renowned ensemble graced once again the Palace Hall stage for the second time during this festival, as part of the Great Orchestras of the World Series in this edition. They were accompanied by the Academic Radio Choir, under the direction of Ciprian Tutu, and the exceptional mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston.
The program featured George Enescu’s Concert Overture on Romanian Folk Themes Op. 32 and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in D minor, Mahler’s most extensive composition and considered the longest symphony in the standard repertoire. The 26th edition of the Bucharest festival concluded with a standing ovations.
Cristian Măcelaru, the Artistic Director of the “George Enescu” Festival, expressed his satisfaction that the event provided superb music not only to the Romanian audience but also to audiences worldwide. He emphasized that Enescu’s presence was deeply felt throughout the festival, both in the music performed and the atmosphere.
Over the course of 29 days, more than 3,500 guest artists graced the stages of the Palace Hall, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Radio Hall, the Auditorium Hall, and the Odeon Theatre, offering a total of 90 concerts.
This year’s official program comprised six concert series, including the “Great Orchestras of the World” series, featuring international and Romanian orchestras such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Orchestra of France, the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich, and others. The festival also welcomed internationally renowned conductors and soloists, making it a musical extravaganza.
Concerts at the Romanian Athenaeum allowed the audience to experience the world’s most renowned symphony and chamber orchestras, showcasing works by classical and contemporary composers. Additionally, midnight concerts featured a diverse range of music, from Renaissance and Baroque to traditional Georgian folklore and moments of improvisation.
Other series, including “Enescu and contemporaries,” “Romanian orchestras,” and “Concerts for families and children,” expanded the festival’s offerings, with the latter taking place in the Majestic Hall of the Odeon Theatre for the first time. The Festival Square, after a hiatus of several editions, returned as a venue, adding to the festival’s vibrancy.
Over 15.000 music lovers participated in 14 free open-air concerts during Enescu Festival
Over 15,000 residents of Bucharest and tourists participated in 14 open-air concerts held over eight days, from September 17th to September 24th, in the George Enescu Festival Square, a free of charge event that is taking place simultaniously with Enescu Festival.
As a connected event to Romania’s most significant musical celebration, the International George Enescu Festival, the Festival Square offered a diverse musical program that seamlessly blended classical music with rock rhythms, electronic beats, vaudeville tunes, jazz, and operetta.
Highlights of this edition included performances by the “Dinu Lipatti” State Philharmonic Orchestra from Satu Mare, conducted by Azis Sadikovic, pianist Mădălina Paşol, and, notably, the great violinist Alexandru Tomescu. Tomescu graced the Festival Square alongside two other internationally renowned artists: pianist Sînziana Mircea and cellist Ştefan Cazacu, presenting the extraordinary recital titled “Wind Water Earth.”
Festive moments were marked by the National Philharmonic “Serghie Lunchevici” from the Republic of Moldova, who, on September 21, performed famous compositions such as “My Fair Lady” (F. Loewe), “West Side Story” (L. Bernstein), “Fantezia Carmen” (P. Sarasate), featuring soprano Tatiana Costiuc, Marin Gheraş on the pan flute, Sergiu Muşat on clarinet, Viorica Agafiţa on violin, Eugen Negruţa on accordion, and Andrei Iurcu on trumpet, all under the baton of conductor Mihail Agafiţa. Additionally, the Radio Romania Big Band brought the music of Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones, and Peter Herbolzheimer to the Festival Square in a concert that received prolonged applause on September 22. The musical evening on September 23 in the Festival Square was dedicated to the city of Bucharest, featuring an anniversary concert performed by Miruna Ionescu and violinist Valentin Albeşteanu, alongside the Symphony Orchestra of the Philharmonic from Râmnicu Vâlcea “Ion Dumitrescu,” conducted by Tiberiu Dragoş Oprea, and Taraful de Oraş.
The closing concert in the Festival Square featured one of the most prestigious young orchestras, the Camerata Regală Orchestra, and Zoli Toth, the conceptual artist and promoter of unconventional percussion music in Romania. On Sunday, the protagonist, alongside the orchestra conducted by Constantin Grigore, blended electronic music with symphonic compositions in a striking performance on the Festival Enescu Square stage.
The 26th edition of the “George Enescu” International Festival was a government-funded project organized by ARTEXIM, under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and with support from the Ministry of Culture.
Reporting by Oana Vasiliu, see Business Review article ➭