About

A History of Excellence and Elegance

 

George Enescu International Festival is today one of the world’s leading classical music events, alongside Lucerne, Edinburgh, and the BBC Proms. Yet this prestige has been built over time, through effort, passion, and perseverance

It took me eighteen years to convince the Berlin Philharmonic to come to Bucharest.

Mihai Constantinescu, Executive Director of the Enescu Festival, 1992–2021

The Festival honors the legacy of George Enescu, composer, violinist, pianist, and conductor, hailed as “the greatest musical phenomenon since Mozart.” Through his work, Enescu continues to inspire both Romanian and international culture.

We are grounded in the principles and values of a complete artist, dedicated to promoting music, enriching the society in which his creation takes form, and allowing the transformative forces of his essence to elevate our spirit. Based on these principles, and rooted in this understanding, I am determined to continue building on the monumental achievements of the Enescu Festival and Competition.

Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director of the Enescu Festival and Competition

The Enescu Festival is today one of the most important festivals in the world.

Zubin Mehta, Honorary President of the Enescu Festival and Competition

Every two years, thousands of musicians, world-renowned orchestras, and celebrated artists come to Bucharest and other Romanian cities to celebrate music. Audiences are offered the complete cycle of Enescu’s works, world and national premieres, as well as a broad selection of classical, romantic, baroque, modern, and contemporary repertoire.

Founded in 1958, in the early years of the communist regime, the Festival created a unique meeting ground between East and West, presenting leading musicians from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Over time, its artistic directors and honorary presidents have included outstanding personalities such as Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Lawrence Foster, Cristian Mandeal, Ioan Holender, and Vladimir Jurowski.

Today, the George Enescu International Festival remains a landmark of excellence, cultural dialogue, and the unifying power of music.