On May 4, the George Enescu International Festival celebrates the 70th anniversary of the passing of George Enescu, Romania’s most celebrated composer, who died in Paris at the age of 73. In honor of this significant anniversary, the 27th edition of the festival – taking place between August 24 and September 21, 2025 – will present a rich and varied program under the artistic direction of conductor Cristian Măcelaru.
Cristian Măcelaru
(c) WDR-Thomas Brill
This year’s edition also commemorates other major milestones in classical music history: 50 years since the death of Dmitri Shostakovich, 100 years since the birth of Pierre Boulez, 150 years since the birth of Maurice Ravel, and 90 years since the birth of Arvo Pärt, among others.
In tribute to these iconic composers, many of the world’s most esteemed orchestras and acclaimed soloists will gather in Bucharest for a series of performances. Ensemble Intercontemporain, Les Siècles, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields will honor Pierre Boulez, while Maurice Ravel’s works will be interpreted by the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana under James Gaffigan, the Orchestre National de France led by Cristian Măcelaru, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo conducted by Charles Dutoit – featuring the legendary Martha Argerich as soloist.
At the heart of the Festival is an extensive tribute to George Enescu himself, with no fewer than 45 performances of his works scheduled. His masterpieces will resonate on the grand stages of Bucharest, including a new production of his monumental opera Oedipe, staged by the Bucharest National Opera and featuring internationally renowned soloists such as mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose in the role of Jocasta.
Daniel Harding
(c) Philharmomie Luxembourg/Grébille
Other key highlights include the opening concert by the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra performing Enescu’s Romanian Poem, Op. 1, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru. The Philharmonia Orchestra, under Santtu-Matias Rouvali, will present Enescu’s Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra, while the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, led by Daniel Harding, will perform the Pastorale-Fantaisie, with Martha Argerich at the piano. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko with pianist Alexandre Kantorow, will offer a powerful interpretation of Enescu’s Symphony No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 13. Meanwhile, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, under the baton of Klaus Mäkelä and joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, will perform the beloved Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, Op. 11.
