George Enescu International Festival – in the top of classical music festivals

George Enescu International Festival reunites over 3500 artists

One of the leading music festivals in the world is happening this fall in Romania! If you haven’t already heard of it, let us fill you in, because it’s a classic! Once every two years, thousands of musicians, the best orchestras and artists in the world enchant the public with their performances at the George Enescu International Festival.

The last two seasons have been particularly challenging for live music making, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s hugely gratifying then, to be one of the key destinations on the map of the best classical music festivals in Europe. This year’s edition is scheduled for August 27 – September 24, and some of the world’s leading musicians will perform on stage. Tickets go on sale today and they sell fast! Not only is the festival generous in its programme, but also in its very spirit! Under the slogan “Generosity through Music”, in total, over 3,500 artists invited, 150 soloists and 40 conductors, 41 orchestras from 16 countries and no less than 9 Romanian orchestras will perform in the Festival. It will be a great marathon with three to four concerts a day!

George Enescu – a musical prodigy born in Romania

A wonder child turned greatest Romanian musician, dubbed “the greatest musical phenomenon since Mozart” by Pablo Casals – George Enescu! Throughout his life, he was a resident of Romania, France and the USA, as well as contemporary of Bartok and Stravinsky. George Enescu’s most beloved compositions, Romanian Rhapsodies 1 and 2 and opera Oedipe, have long held a permanent place in the repertoire of every major orchestra. George Enescu’s music will be present in the 2023 edition in interpretations of international caliber. The Oedipe opera returns to the festival’s program in co-production with the Bucharest National Opera.  Symphony No. 3 in C Major will be performed by the National Orchestra of France.

However, the spotlight of the George Enescu International Festival is dedicated to a contemporary musical prodigy, operatic soprano Christiane Karg. Music aficionados will also get the chance to marvel at the majesty of performances by WDR Sinfonieorchestra Koln, Tonhalle Orchester Zurich and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Returning favourites are The London Symphony Orchestra, The Romanian National Youth Orchestra, George Enescu Philarmonic Orchestra and Scala di Milano to name just a few. For a more comprehensive schedule of performances, go here.

Take the opportunity of visiting Romania’s capital this fall and you’ve got yourself a month-long musical jamboree!

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