George Enescu International Festival 2017
The program of George Enescu International Festival 2017
SATURDAY 2 september
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CHOIR OF THE “GEORGE ENESCU” PHILHARMONIC
ROMANIAN RADIO CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Conductor: VLADIMIR JUROWSKI
Conductor of the Choir: ION IOSIF PRUNNER
Conductor of the Children’s Choir: VOICU POPESCU
Multimedia Director: CARMEN LIDIA VIDU
Assistant conductor: TIBERIU SOARE
Programme: Enescu – “OEdipe”
“What I can certainly say is that, out of all my compositions, OEdipe is my dearest one.”- George Enescu
Soloists:
OEdipe – PAUL GAY (baritone)
Tirésias – Sir WILLARD WHITE (bass-baritone)
Créon – CHRISTOPHER PURVES (baritone)
Shephard – GRAHAM CLARK (tenor)
High Priest – MISCHA SCHELOMIANSKI (bass)
Phorbas – IN SUNG SIM (bass)
Watchman/Old man – MAXIM MIKHAILOV (bass)
Theseus – BORIS PINKHASOVICH (baritone)
Laius – MARIUS VLAD BUDOIU (tenor)
Jocasta – RUXANDRA DONOSE (mezzosoprano)
The Sphinx – ILDIKÓ KOMLÓSI (mezzosoprano)
Antigone – GABRIELA IŞTOC (soprano)
Mérope – Dame FELICITY PALMER (mezzosoprano)
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
EUROPA GALANTE
Conductor: FABIO BIONDI
Soloist: VIVICA GENAUX (mezzosoprano)
Programme:
Vivaldi – “Farewells” – History of an end” (1738 – 1741)
LAST SUCCESSES IN VENICE
Sinfonia from “Griselda”
Aria “Vorrei dirti il mio dolore” from “Rosmira” (1738)
Aria “Gelido in ogni vena” from “Farnace” (1738)
Violin concerto in B-flat major “per la signora Chiara” RV 372 (1739)
Sinfonia for strings in G major RV 149 “Il coro delle muse” (1740)
Concerto for viola, d’amore, lutes, strings and continuos in d minor RV 540 (1740)
Aria “Sarebbe un bel diletto” from “L’Oracolo in Messenia” (1742)
Aria “Sposa, non mi conosci?” from “L’Oracolo in Messenia” (1742)
Concerto for violin, strings and basso continuo in b minor RV 390 (1741)
Sonata “al Santo Sepolcro” for 2 violins, viola & continuo in E-flat major
SUNDAY 03 september
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
RALUCA ȘTIRBĂȚ – piano
Programme:Berg – Piano Sonata op. 1 (1910)
Jora – “Joujoux pour Ma Dame”. Cinq Pièces pour Piano op. 7 (1925)
Ravel – “Pavane pour une infante défunte” (1899)
Ravel – “La Valse” (1919)
Enescu – “Sonatensatz” in f-sharp minor (1912)
“Sonatensatz” in f-sharp minor is a work by Enescu whose manuscript was discovered in the archives of the “George Enescu” Museum as late as 1993, by the musicologist Clemansa Firca. The pianist Raluca Știrbăț is the one who performed the sonata for the very first time in 2015 and who included it in her discographic album “George Enescu – Complete Works for Piano Solo”, released by Hänssler Classic, Germany.
Enescu – Sonata no. 3 in D major op. 24 (1933-1935)
“I find comfort in composition. The result is a new piano sonata… full of joy, in full contrast with the surrounding atmosphere.” (George Enescu, in a letter to Edmond Fleg from January 1934, quoted by Noel Malcolm in George Enescu: His Life and Music)
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
Conductor and soloist: JOSHUA BELL – violin
Programme:
Beethoven – “Egmont” Overture op. 84
Bruch – Concerto no. 1 for violin and orchestra in g minor op. 26
Beethoven – Symphony no. 5 in c minor op. 67
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conductor: VLADIMIR JUROWSKI
Soloist: CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF – violin
Programme:
Wagner – “Tristan und Isolde”. Prelude to Act 3
Berg – Concerto for violin and orchestra (1935)
Shostakovich – Symphony No.11 in G minor Opus. 103 (1905)
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
VENICE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Conductor: ANDREA MARCON
Soloist: MAGDALENA KOŽENÁ (mezzosoprano)
Programme: G.F. Händel
Concerto grosso in B-flat major op. 3 no. 2 HWV 313
Aria “L’angue offeso” from opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Aria “Ogni vento” from opera Agrippina
Concerto grosso in G major op. 6 no. 1 HWV 319
Aria “Cara sposa” from opera Rinaldo
Aria “Venti, turbini” from opera Rinaldo
Overture from opera Ariodante HWV 33
Aria “Verdi prati” from opera Alcina
Aria “Se pietà di me non senti” from opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Concerto grosso in a minor op. 6 no. 4 HWV 322
Aria “Pensieri, voi mi tormentate” from opera Agrippina
Aria “Dopo notte” from opera Ariodante
MONDAY 04 september
Time 17.00 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
LONDON PHILHARMONIC PLAYERS
PIETER SCHOEMAN – first violin
KEVIN LIN – first violin
TANIA MAZZETTI – second violin
KATALIN VARNAGY – second violin
DAVID QUIGGLE – viola
ROBERT DUNCAN – viola
KRISTINA BLAUMANE – cello
PEI-JEE NG – cello
Programme:
Mendelssohn – String octet in E-flat major op. 20 (1825)
Enescu – String octet in C major op. 7 (1900)
Regarding his Octet for strings, George Enescu wrote in his memories, compiled by the French musician Bernard Gavoty: “I have exhausted myself trying to make a composition divided into four segments of such length work, as each of them could have snapped at any time. An engineer launching his first suspension bridge over a river could not feel more anxiety than I felt when I started to put pen to paper.”
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
RADIO ACADEMIC CHOIR
Conductor: MIKHAIL PLETNEV
Conductor of the choir: CIPRIAN ȚUȚU
Soloist: NIKOLAI LUGANSKY – piano
Programme:
Enescu – “Isis” Poem (1923, orchestrated by Pascal Bentoiu, according to the composer's sketches)
“The Isis poem is a mysterious work, impregnated with OEdipe effluvia, as well as an unmistakeable Tristanesque air, and – while it is no “music portrait” – it probably contains a tribute […] of the author to the person he loved most in this lifetime.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Prokofiev – Concerto no. 3 for piano and orchestra in C major op. 26
Prokofiev – Symphony no. 6 in e-flat minor op. 111
TUESDAY 05.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
SIR BRYN TERFEL – bass-baritone
MALCOLM MARTINEAU – piano
Idris Lewis – Can yr Arad Goch Owen Williams – Sul y Blodau Meirion Williams – Y Cymro Ralph Vaughan Williams – A selection of songs from “The Songs of Travel” Traditional – A selection of songs from “The Celtic Isles” (Passing By; Loch Lomond; Suo Gân) Bryan Davies – A Medley of Welsh Folksongs
Robert Schumann – Belsatzar Op. 57 Mein Wagen rollet langsam Franz Schubert – Liebesbtoschaft D.957 Das Fischermädchen D.957 No. 10 Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen D.343 Auf dem wasser zu singen Op.72 Die Taubenpost D.965a John Charles Thomas – A tribute (1891-1960) (Trees; Home on the Range; Lord’s Prayer; The Green Eyed Dragon)
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Conductor: HORIA ANDREESCU
Soloist: VADIM REPIN – violin
Programme:
Ginastera – “Estancia” Suite. Four dances op. 8a (1941)
Enescu – “Aria and Scherzino” for violin and orchestra (1908-1909)
Aria and Scherzino were printed for the first time in 2005, at the initiative of Sherban Lupu, a Romanian violinist living in the United States of America. The six notebooks edited with this occasion contain works from the composer’s youth, the manuscripts of which can be found in the archives of the “George Enescu” Museum in Bucharest.
Sir James MacMillan – Concerto for violin and orchestra (2009) (first Romanian audition)
Tchaikovsky – Symphony no. 5 in e minor op. 64 (1888)
WEDNESDAY 06.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
CZECH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Soloist: VALENTIN RĂDUȚIU – cello (Laureate of the “George Enescu” International Competition, 2011 edition)
Programme:
Enescu – Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D major op. 27 “Villageoise” (1937-1938)
“The Suite is close […] to peasants’ spirituality, which it explores ever so deeper.” (Vasile Vasile, “Enescu’s Villageoise and its constellation”, in the magazine Muzica)
Shostakovich – Concerto no. 1 for cello and orchestra in E-flat major op. 107
Dvořák – Symphony no. 8 in G major op. 88
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ROMANIAN NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
CHOIR OF THE “GEORGE ENESCU” PHILHARMONIC
Conductor: DOMINGO HINDOYAN
Conductor of the Choir: ION IOSIF PRUNNER
Programme:
Beethoven – Concerto no. 1 for piano and orchestra in C major op. 15
Soloist: SERGIO TIEMPO – piano
Beethoven – Symphony no. 9 in d minor op. 125
Soloists:
ANNA SAMUIL (soprano)
ROXANA CONSTANTINESCU (mezzosoprano)
STEFAN VINKE (tenor)
DANIEL BOAZ (baritone)
THURSDAY 07.09
Time 17:00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
CZECH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Soloist: NIKOLAJ ZNAIDER – violin
Programme:
Brahms – Violin concerto in D major op. 77 (1878)
Martinů – Symphony no. 4 H 305 (1945)
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor: MANFRED HONECK
Soloist: MATTHIAS GOERNE (baritone)
Programme:
Dvořák – Rusalka-Fantasie (arranged by Manfred Honeck/Thomas Ille)
Mahler – Poems from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (The Youth's Magic Horn)
(Rheinlegendchen, Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen, Das irdische Leben, Urlicht, Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt, Revelge, Der Tambourgsell)
Tchaikovsky – Symphony no. 6 in b minor op. 74 “Pathétique”
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
CONCERTO KÖLN & GIULIANO CARMIGNOLA
Programme:
Dall’Abaco – Concerto no. 1 in d minor op. 2 from “Concerti à quatro da chiesa” (c 1712)
Avison – Concerto no. 6 in D major from “12 Concertos in Seven Parts” after “Cembalosonaten” by Domenico Scarlatti
Bach –Concerto for two violins in d minor BWV 1043
Vivaldi – Concerto no. 1 in E major op. 8 RV 269 “La primavera” (Spring)
Concerto no. 2 in g minor op. 8 RV 315 “L’estate” (Summer)
Concerto no. 3 in F major op. 8 RV 293 “L’autunno” (Autumn)
Concerto no. 4 in f minor op. 8 RV 297 “L’inverno” (Winter)
FRIDAY 08.09
Time 16.30 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
L’ARPEGGIATA ENSEMBLE
Soloists: PHILIPPE JAROUSSKY (countertenor) CÉLINE SCHEEN (soprano)
GIANLUIGI TROVESI (clarinet)
CHRISTINA PLUHAR (theorbo & conductor)
Programme: “Händel goes wild” – Improvisations on G.F. Händel’s music
Händel – Sinfonia (Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, from “Solomon”) “Penna tiranna” (Aria di Dardano, from “Amadigi di Gaula”) “Where’er you walk” (Aria di Jupiter, from “Semele”)
Vivaldi – Concerto in g minor RV 157 Händel – “Tu del ciel ministro eletto” (Aria di Belezza, from “Il triomfo del Tempo e della Verita”) “Verdi prati” (Aria di Ruggiero, from “Alcina”) “Io t’abbraccio” (Duetto di Rodelinda e Bertarido, from “Rodelinda”)
Sinfonia (From “Alcina”, Atto Terzo) “O sleep, why thost thou leave me” (Aria di Semele, from “Semele”) “Cara sposa” (Aria di Rinaldo, From “Rinaldo”) “Caro/cara, tu mi accendi nel mio core” (Duetto di Clotilde e Aldolfo, from “Faramondo”) Improvisation – Canario Händel – “Mi lusinga il dolce affetto” (Aria di Ruggiero, from “Alcina”) “Piangero la sorte mia” (Aria di Cleopatra, from “Giulio Cesare”) “Venti turbidi” (Aria di Rinaldo, from “Rinaldo”)
Ensemble members: DORON SHERWIN – cornetto
JUDITH STEENBRINK – baroque violin CATHERINE AGLIBUT – baroque violin RAQUEL MASSADAS – viola RODNEY PRADA – viola da gamba JOSETXU OBREGON – baroque cello EERO PALVIAINEN – lute & baroque guitar SERGEY SAPRICHEV – percussion BORIS SCHMIDT – double bass FRANCESCO TURRISI – harpsichord, positive organ HARU KITAMIKA – harpsichord, positive organ
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor: MANFRED HONECK
Soloist: ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER – violin
Programme:
Enescu – Concert Overture on Popular Romanian Themes in A major op. 32 (1948)
“Between the two sound phrases that mark the beginning and the end of George Enescu’s Concert Overture op. 32, […] a strange, complex and equally paradoxical sonorous world is born, transformed and placed on the road to eternity.” (Constantin Secară, in the study “George Enescu’s Concert Overture op. 32, from the Romanian Traditional Character to the Synthesis of Enescu’s Musical Language”)
Dvořák – Concerto for violin and orchestra in a minor op. 53
Mahler – Symphony no. 1 in D major
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
LES MUSICIENS DU LOUVRE
Conductor: MARC MINKOWSKI
Programme: Mozart – opera “Così fan tutte”
Soloists:
Fiordiligi – ANA MARIA LABIN (soprano) Dorabella – SERENA MALFI (mezzosoprano) Guglielmo – ROBERT GLEADOW (baritone) Ferrando – ANICIO ZORZI GIUSTINIANI (tenor) Don Alfonso – JEAN-SÉBASTIEN BOU (baritone) Despina – GIULIA SEMENZATO (soprano)
Les Musiciens du Louvre is supported by the Département de l’Isère, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (DRAC Rhône-Alpes).
SATURDAY 09.09
Time 11.00 Auditorium HallRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
ARC ENSEMBLE
MARIE BERARD – violin
STEVEN DANN – viola
DAVID LOUIE – piano
ERIKA RAUM – violin
DIANNE WERNER – piano
THOMAS WIEBE – cello
Programme:
Elgar – Piano Quintet in a minor op. 84
Fitelberg – Quartet no. 2 (1931)
Enescu – Piano Quartet no. 1 in D major op. 16 (1909)
“The Piano Quartet op. 16 is one of the strangest works and perhaps one of the most unjustly treated in Enescu’s creation. I say strange because […] this piece looks to the past with one eye and to the future with the other.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE DE LAUSANNE
Conductor: JOSHUA WEILERSTEIN
Soloists:
MIHAI RITIVOIU – piano (Laureate of the “George Enescu” International Competition, 2011 edition)
TINE THING HELSETH – trumpet
Programme:
Biber – “Battalia à 10” in D major C61 (1673)
Shostakovich – Concerto no. 1 for piano, trumpet and orchestra in c minor op. 35 (1933)
Beethoven – Symphony no. 3 in E-flat major op. 55 “Eroica” (1804)
* The participation of Mihai Ritivoiu is supported by “Liliana and Peter Ilica” Foundation for the Endowment of the Arts
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
MÜNCHNER PHILHARMONIKER
Conductor: VALERY GERGIEV
Soloist: DANIIL TRIFONOV – piano
Programme:
Rachmaninoff – Concerto no. 2 for piano and orchestra in c minor op. 18
Bruckner – Symphony no. 4 in E-flat major “Romantic” (WAB 104)
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
CAMERATA SALZBURG
Soloists:
VINICIU MOROIANU – piano (Member of the jury of the “George Enescu” International Competition 2016 and laureate of “George Enescu” International Competition, 1991 edition)
VICTORIA VASSILENKO – piano (Winner of the “George Enescu” International Competition, 2016 edition)
Programme:
Mozart – Overture to “La Clemenza di Tito” KV 621
Lipatti – Symphonie concertante for two pianos and strings op. 5
Dediu – Symphony no. 3 op. 61 “Capriccio Classico”
SUNDAY 10.09
Time 11.00 Auditorium HallRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
QUATUOR DIOTIMA
YUN-PENG ZHAO – violin
CONSTANCE RONZATTI – violin
FRANCK CHEVALIER – viola
PIERRE MORLET – cello
Programme:
Works commissioned by Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Schoenberg – String Quartet no. 3
Enescu – String Quartet no. 2 in G major op. 22 (1950-1952)
“The novelty of the String Quartet op. 22 is considerably greater than it may seem at first sight, and the spiritual correspondence of its time seems to be found in a certain manner of being of Alban Berg’s music and in some of the most complex appearances of post-Webernian creation.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Capodopere enesciene)
Bartók – String Quartet no. 5 Sz. 102
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE DE LAUSANNE
Conductor: JOSHUA WEILERSTEIN
Soloist: BORIS BROVTSYN – violin
Programme:
Enescu – Chamber Symphony for 12 solo instruments op. 33 (1954)
In 1958, at the first edition of the “George Enescu” Festival, the conductor Constantin Silvestri told the audience the following: “This work is the masterpiece of maestro Enescu; it is more difficult to comprehend than others due to its overly modern language. This is why we will perform it fully once again. (Quoted by Pascal Bentoiu, in Capodopere enesciene)
Prokofiev – Concerto no. 2 for violin and orchestra in g minor op. 63
Mozart – Symphony no. 40 in g minor K 550
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
MÜNCHNER PHILHARMONIKER
Conductor: VALERY GERGIEV
Soloist: ANDREI IONIȚĂ – cello (Winner of the Tchaikovsky International Cello Competition, 2015)
Programme:
Enescu – Symphony no. 1 in E-flat major op. 13 (1905)
“The Symphony in E-flat major is a huge shout of joy, not being in the least a childish work. […] It is a continuous aspiration to an ideal of beauty, light and truth, almost a sort of metaphysical patience.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Capodopere enesciene)
Saint-Saëns – Concerto no. 1 for cello and orchestra in a minor op. 33
Rimsky-Korsakov – Symphonic Suite "Scheherazade" op. 35
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
CAMERATA SALZBURG
Conductor and Soloist: PINCHAS ZUKERMAN – violin
Programme:
Enescu – Ballade for violin and orchestra (1895)
“A most curious thing: I knew nothing, I had listened to nothing or at least not too much, I had no one around to influence me and yet, ever since I was a child, I had this fixation with being a composer. Being only a composer.” (George Enescu, in “Memories of George Enescu”, compiled by Bernard Gavoty)
Schubert – Symphony no. 5 in B-flat major D 485
Mozart – Concerto no. 5 for violin and orchestra in A major KV 219 “Turkish”
MONDAY 11.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
GAUTIER CAPUÇON – cello
FRANK BRALEY – piano
Programme:
Enescu – Sonata no. 1 for cello and piano in f minor op. 26 (1897)
Composed when Enescu was just 17 years old, “Sonata no. 1 for cello and piano – although Germanic in spirit – is built on cyclical principles […] starting from César Franck.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Debussy – Sonata for cello and piano in d minor
Beethoven – Sonata no. 5 for cello and piano op. 102 no. 2
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LONDON
Conductor: CHARLES DUTOIT
Soloist: FRANK PETER ZIMMERMANN – violin
Programme:
Ravel – “Pavane pour une infante défunte” (1910)
Beethoven – Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major op. 61
Stravinsky – "Petrushka". Ballet burlesque in four scenes: The Shrovetide Fair, Petrushka’s Room, The Moor’s Room, The Shrovetide Fair (Toward Evening) (1911 version)
TUESDAY 12.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
LEONIDAS KAVAKOS – violin
KIRILL GERSTEIN – piano
Programme:
Beethoven – Sonata no. 6 for violin and piano in A major op. 30
Enescu – “Impressions d’enfance” Suite op. 28 (1938)
“Impressions d’enfance is a cycle with a dramatic art similar to the cosmic cycle seen through the eyes and sensibility of a child.” (Cornel Țăranu for The Enescu Festival, 2015 Edition)
Bartók – Sonata no. 2 for violin and piano Sz 76
Beethoven – Sonata no. 7 for violin and piano in c minor op. 30
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LONDON
Conductor: CHARLES DUTOIT
Soloist: MARTHA ARGERICH – piano
Programme:
Enescu – Romanian Rhapsody no. 1 in A major op. 11
“With the exuberance of its dancing rhythms and the brilliant colours of the orchestra, it is clearly the musical image of a folk party.” (Zeno Vancea, “Romanian folk intonations in George Enescu’s music”, in the magazine Muzica)
Ravel – Piano Concerto in G major
Debussy – "La Mer" (De l’aube à midi sur la mer, Le Jeu des vagues, Le Dialogue du vent et de la mer)
Ravel – Bolero
WEDNESDAY 13.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
RENAUD CAPUÇON – violin
JÉRÔME DUCROS – piano
Programme:
Dvořák – Four Romantic pieces op. 75
Enescu – Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano in D major op. 2 (1897)
“George Enescu treats the piano in his Sonata no. 1 as the main instrument, while the violin is approached like an instrument lacking virtuosity, in an almost ascetic manner.” (Mircea Voicana, George Enescu. Monografie)
Grieg – Sonata no. 3 for violin and piano in c minor op. 45
Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances Sz. 56
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
RADIO NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
RADIO ACADEMIC CHOIR
Conductor: LAWRENCE FOSTER
Conductor of the Choir: CIPRIAN ȚUȚU
Multimedia director: CARMEN LIDIA VIDU
Programme: Hindemith – Opera "Mathis der Maler"
Soloists:
Albrecht von Brandenburg – TORSTEN KERL (tenor)
Countess Helfenstein – STELLA GRIGORIAN (contralto)
Hans Schwalb – NORBERT ERNST (tenor)
Regina – KATERINA TRETYAKOVA (soprano)
Lorenz von Pommersfelden – MARTIN SNELL (bass)
Riedinger – FALK STRUCKMANN (bass-baritone)
Ursula – BRIGITTE PINTER (soprano)
Mathis – LESTER LYNCH (baritone)
Sylvester von Schaumberg – COSMIN IFRIM (tenor)
Truchsess von Waldburg, army general – ALIN ANCA (bass)
Wolfgang Capito – PETER GALLIARD (tenor)
THURSDAY 14.09
Time 16.30 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, LONDON
Conductor: VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY
Soloist: MICHAEL BARENBOIM – violin
Programme:
Prokofiev – Concerto no. 1 for violin and orchestra in D major op. 19
Shostakovich – Symphony no. 10 in e minor op. 93
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
FILARMONICA DELLA SCALA
Conductor: RICCARDO CHAILLY
Soloist: DAVID GARRETT – violin
Programme:
Tchaikovsky – Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major op. 35
Shostakovich – Symphony no. 12 in d minor op. 112 “The Year 1917”
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
REMUS AZOIȚEI – violin
ALEXANDRA DARIESCU – piano
Programme:
Bach – “Chaconne” from Bach’s Partita no. 2 for solo violin in d minor BWV 1004
Beethoven – Sonata no. 5 for violin and piano in F major op. 24 “Spring”
Lipatti – Sonatina for the left hand (piano solo)
Enescu – Sonata no. 2 for violin and piano in f minor op. 6 (1899)
“With The Second Sonata for violin and piano, […] I felt I was finally becoming free”. (George Enescu, in “Memories of George Enescu”, compiled by Bernard Gavoty)
Bartók – Romanian dances for violin and piano Sz 56/BB 68
FRIDAY 15.09
Time 16.30 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, LONDON
Conductor: CRISTIAN MANDEAL
Soloist: BORIS BEREZOVSKY – piano
Programme:
Enescu – Suite no. 2 in C major op. 20 (1915)
“The Suite no. 2 was created in the classical style, using a newer technique, yet not an excessively audacious one. The atmosphere is perhaps closer to my country, Romania”, said George Enescu in a press conference held in Paris.
Rachmaninoff – Concerto no. 2 for piano and orchestra in c minor op. 18
Sibelius – Symphony no. 2 in D major op. 43
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
FILARMONICA DELLA SCALA
Conductor: RICCARDO CHAILLY
Soloist: JULIAN RACHLIN – viola
Programme:
Enescu – Rhapsody no. 2 in D major op.11 (1902)
“The Second Rhapsody reveals itself to us as a historical fresco from our troubled past.” (Zeno Vancea, “Romanian folk intonations in George Enescu’s music”, in the magazine Muzica)
Bartók – Concerto for viola and orchestra SZ 120/BB 128
Respighi – “Fontane di Roma” (La fontana di Valle Giulia, La Fontana del Tritone al mattino, La fontana di Trevi, La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto)
Respighi – “Pini di Roma” (I pini di Villa Borghese, Pini presso una catacomba, I pini del Gianicolo, I pini della Via Appia)
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
KIRILL GERSTEIN – piano
Programme:
Bach – 4 duettos
Enescu – Sonata no. 1 for piano in f-sharp minor op. 24 (1924)
“The second part defies the Universe with a stubborn staccato, and the ending, which starts with a note played over and over again, is a cry of despair. A gloomy dialogue in between smiles, interspersed with tender words.” (Cella Delavrancea, Scrieri)
Debussy – Preludes book 1
Brahms – Sonata no. 2 in f-sharp minor op. 2
SATURDAY 16.09
Time 11.00 Auditorium HallRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
LONDON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Programme:
Enescu – Dixtuor for Winds op. 14 (1906)
“Once I used to liken the intimate structure of the Dixtuor with that of a beautiful Platonic dialogue.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Tim Benjamin –Yes, I remember
Mozart – Serenade no. 11 for winds in E-flat major K 375
Graham Fitkin – Servant
Mozart – Symphony no. 41 in D major KV 551 “Jupiter”
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
JEAN-GUIHEN QUEYRAS – cello
FLORENT BOFFARD – piano
Programme:
Poulenc – Suite Française, after Claude Gervaise FP 80 (1. Bransle de Bourgogne; 2. Pavane; 3. Petite marche militaire; 4. Complainte; 5. Bransle de Champagne 6. Sicilienne 7. Carillon)
Enescu – Sonata no. 2 for cello and piano in C major op. 26 (1935)
“We are welcomed, […] in this second cello sonata, by subtleties of timbre and harmony worthy of great impressionist musicians.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Berg – Four Pieces for clarinet and piano op. 5 (arrangement for cello and piano)
Brahms – Sonata no. 1 for cello and piano in e minor op. 38
Time 20.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conductor: ZUBIN MEHTA
Soloist: KHATIA BUNIATISHVILLI – piano
Programme:
Schumann – Concerto for piano and orchestra in a minor op. 54
Strauss – “Sinfonia Domestica” op. 53
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
THE MUSICAL VOYAGES OF MARCO POLO
ENSEMBLE EN CHORDAIS
ENSEMBLE CONSTANTINOPLE
“ANTON PANN” CHOIR
Programme:
Marco’s dream / Gallop / Lamento di Tristano / Holy Oil / The golden sheaf of time / Jeopardy / Cercles migrants / In Xanadu / Selection from Saint John of Damascus’ Idiomelon / Five steps / Chandmani nutag / Yi Zu Wu Qu / Engareh / Akritas / The Stranger / The Musical Voyages of Marco Polo
SUNDAY 17.09
Time 11.00 Auditorium HallRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
NICOLAS DAUTRICOURT – violin
GARY HOFFMAN – cello
NELSON GOERNER – piano
Programme:
Ravel – Trio for piano, violin and cello in a minor (1914)
Enescu – Trio in g minor (final arrangement by Pascal Bentoiu) (1897)
The Trio in g minor was performed for the first time by Elena Bibescu, George Enescu and Robert Loys at a reception organised by the princess on 6 February 1898.
Enescu – Sonata no. 1 for piano and cello in f minor op. 26 (1898)
Composed when Enescu was just 17 years old, “Sonata no. 1 for cello and piano – although Germanic in spirit – is built on cyclical principles […] starting from César Franck.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Ysaÿe – Sonata no. 3 for violin solo in d minor op. 27 (1924)
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
JONAS KAUFMANN – tenor
HELMUT DEUTSCH – piano
Programme:
Schubert – The song cycle “Die schöne Müllerin” op. 25 D 795
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conductor: ZUBIN MEHTA
Soloist: LEONIDAS KAVAKOS – violin
Programme:
Enescu – "Voix de la nature"
“Imagine a stormy sea. A motionless sailor contemplates it, his eyes glued to the horizon. The wind is roaring, blowing up, turning to squall. A siren howls in the distance [...]”. (George Enescu, in “Memories of George Enescu”, compiled by Bernard Gavoty)
Brahms – Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major op. 77
Schubert – Symphony no. 9 in C major D 944 “The Grand Symphony”
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
ENSEMBLE INSTRUMENTAL DE PARIS
NATIONAL CHAMBER CHOIR “MADRIGAL – MARIN CONSTANTIN”
Conductor: CHRISTIAN CIUCĂ
Conductor of the choir: ANNA UNGUREANU
Soloists:
OLGA PERETYATKO-MARIOTTI (soprano)
KHATOUNA GADELIA (soprano)
MARIUS VLAD BUDOIU (tenor)
ADRIAN SÂMPETREAN (bass)
SIMONA SĂNDULESCU (organist)
Programme:
Mozart – “Exsultate, jubilate” K. 165
Mozart –The Great Mass in c minor K. 427 (417a)
MONDAY 18.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
ANOUSHKA SHANKAR – sitar
MANU DELAGO – hang and drum kit
Konzertmeister: WILLI ZIMMERMANN
and the ZÜRICH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Programme:
M. Delago – Down to the summit
A. Shankar – Voice of the moon
A. Shankar/M. Delago – Maya
A. Shankar – Buleria con Ricardo
M. Delago – Two Handsful of Sound
M. Delago – Wandering around
M. Delago – Bigger Than Home
A. Shankar – Chasing Shadows
M. Delago – Secret Corridor
A. Shankar – Monsoon
A. Shankar – Flight
A. Shankar – Traces of you
A. Shankar – Traveller
A. Shankar – Mahadeva
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE FRANCE
Conductor: CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH
Soloist: THOMAS HAMPSON (baritone)
Programme:
Mahler – “Rückert Lieder”
“Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!” (Do not look at my songs!)
“Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft” (I breathed a gentle fragrance)
“Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” (I am lost to the world)
“Um Mitternacht” (At midnight)
“Liebst du um Schönheit” (If you love for beauty)
Mahler – Symphony no. 5 in c-sharp minor
TUESDAY 19.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
LES SIÈCLES
THE ROYAL CHOIR – under the high Patronage of His Royal Highness, Prince Radu of Romania
Conductor: FRANÇOIS-XAVIER ROTH
Conductor of the Choir: EDUARD DINU
Soloist: SIMONE LAMSMA – violin
Programme:
Enescu – Poème Roumain op.1 (1897)
“I had tried to put into this symphonic suite, the Poème Roumain, some of my childhood memories that had been transposed, or better yet, stylised: it revived familiar images from my native land, which I had left for eight years. To this day, I can still find the scent and landscapes of my fatherland in this work. A summer night before a holiday… nightfall… moonlight… everyone dancing. It was simple, it was naïve, but it came from the heart.” (George Enescu, quoted in the book George Enescu. Omagiu cu prilejul aniversării a 100 de ani de la naștere)
Debussy – “Première Suite”
Saint-Saëns – Concerto no. 3 for violin and orchestra in b minor op. 61
Ravel – “La Valse”
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE FRANCE
Conductor: CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH
Soloist: TRULS MØRK – cello
Programme:
Wagner – Overture to “Tannhäuser”
Enescu – Symphonie concertante for cello and orchestra in b minor op. 8 (1901)
“With the Symphonie concertante, we are dealing with a true masterpiece, of great lyrical intensity and notable density of information.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Brahms – Symphony no. 1 in c minor op. 68
WEDNESDAY 20.09
Time 17.00 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
LES DISSONANCES
Programme:
Enescu – Orchestral Suite no. 1 in C major op. 9 (1903)
“With this composition, Enescu valorises folklore using the following formula: let yourself be inspired by it, but leave it alone.” (George Bălan, George Enescu)
Sibelius – Concerto for violin and orchestra in d minor op. 47
Bartók – Concerto for orchestra Sz. 116/BB 123
Time 20.00 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR OF THE “GEORGE ENESCU” PHILHARMONIC
Conductor: JOHN NELSON
Conductor of the Choir: ION IOSIF PRUNNER
Multimedia director: PETRIKĂ IONESCO
Assistant conductor: GABRIEL BEBEȘELEA
Programme: Berlioz – “La Damnation de Faust”
Soloists:
Marguerite – CLÉMENTINE MARGAINE (mezzosoprano)
Faust – FRANCESCO DEMURO (tenor)
Méphistophélès – NICOLAS TESTÈ (bass)
Brander – ȘERBAN VASILE (baritone)
THURSDAY 21.09
Time 16.30 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
Recital ALEXEI VOLODIN – piano
Programme:
Enescu – Suite no. 2 op. 10 (1903)
The Piano Suite no. 2, dedicated by Enescu to his piano teacher Louis Diémer, won an important award at the contest organised by the Paris magazine “Musica”. The jury included important figures such as Claude Debussy, Alfred Cortot or Vincent d'Indy.
Prokofiev – “Romeo and Juliet”. 10 pieces for piano op.75 (excerpts) Mendelssohn/Rachmaninoff – Scherzo from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Medtner – Tale no. 4 from Four Tales in c-sharp minor op. 35, based on King Lear “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks”
Rachmaninoff – Sonata no. 1 for piano op. 28
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ORCHESTRA E CORO DELL’ ACCADEMIA NAZIONALE DI SANTA CECILIA
Conductor: ANTONIO PAPPANO
Conductor of the Choir: CIRO VISCO
Soloist: BEATRICE RANA – piano
Programme:
Tchaikovsky – Concerto no. 1 for piano and orchestra in b-flat minor op. 23
Enescu – Symphony no. 3 in C major op. 21 (1919-1921)
“This work […] has stirred the imagination, more than any other of Enescu’s compositions of similar dimensions”. (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
RUSSIAN CHAMBER PHILHARMONIC ST. PETERSBURG
Conductor: JURI GILBO
Soloist: MISHA MAISKY – cello
Programme:
Enescu – Intermezzi op. 12 (1902-1903)
“The Intermezzi op. 12 are imbued with the spirit of Fauré, while being reminiscent of Wagner here and there.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar Enescian)
Tchaikovsky – Nocturne for cello and orchestra op. 19 no. 4
Bruch – “Kol Nidrei” for cello and orchestra op. 47
Mendelssohn – Symphony no. 4 in A major op. 90 “Italian”
Tchaikovsky – Variations on a Rococo Theme op .33
FRIDAY 22.09
Time 16.30 The Romanian AthenaeumRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY – baritone
IVARI ILJA – piano
Programme:
Leonid Malashkin – “Oh, Could I But Express in Song”, lyricist G. Lișin
Vladimir Abaz – “Misty Morning”, lyricist Ivan Turgheniev
Mihail Yakovlev – “Elegy”, lyricist Anton Delvig
Piotr Bulakhov – “Meeting”, lyricist Nikolai Grekov
Russian Folk Song – “Not a single Path Crosses the Field”, arrangement Iuri Șaporin
Boris Fomin – “Only once”, lyricist Paul Herman
Old Russian Romance – “By the long road”, lyricist Mihail Lermontov, arrangement Anatoli Novikov
Yakov Feldman – “Coachman, Don't Rush the Horses”, lyricist Nikolai Ritter
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – “I Bless You, Forests”, lyricist Aleksei N. Tolstoi
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – “Don Juan`s Serenade”, lyricist Aleksei N. Tolstoi
Alexandr Borodin – Prince Igor’s aria “No sleep, no rest for my afflicted soul” from Act III of the opera Prince Igor
Anton Rubinstein – The Demon’s romance “On the Ocean of the Air” from Act II of the opera The Demon
Anton Rubinstein – The Demon’s romance “Here`s who I trusted” from the opera The Demon
Sergei Rachmaninoff – Aleko's Cavatina “All the gipsy camp is sleeping” from the opera Aleko
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Tomsky`s Ballade “Oh, Than Listen To This... One Day at Versailles” from the opera The Queen of Spades
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ORCHESTRA E CORO DELL’ ACCADEMIA NAZIONALE DI SANTA CECILIA
Conductor: ANTONIO PAPPANO
Conductor of the Choir: CIRO VISCO
Soloists:
RACHEL WILLIS-SORENSEN (soprano)
OKKA VON DER DAMERAU (mezzosoprano)
Programme: Mahler – Symphony no. 2 “Auferstehung”
Time 22.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
BY MIDNIGHT CONCERTS SERIES
JORDI SAVALL & LE CONCERT DES NATIONS
Corelli – Concerto grosso in D major op. 6 no.
SATURDAY 23.09
Time 11.00 Auditorium HallRECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
THE SCHUBERT ENSEMBLE OF LONDON
SIMON BLENDIS – violin
ALEXANDRA WOOD – violin
DOUGLAS PATERSON – viola
JANE SALMON – cello
WILLIAM HOWARD – piano
Programme:
Mahler – Piano Quartet in a minor
Enescu – Piano Quintet no. 1 in a minor op. 29 (1940)
The Piano Quintet op. 29 – along with the poem Voix de la nature – is one of the works completed by George Enescu, yet shown to the public much later. The quintet was finished in 1940, and the first time it was ever performed was in December 1964, by Valentin and Ştefan Gheorghiu, Cornelia Bronzetti, George Popovici and Radu Aldulescu.
Schumann – Piano Quintet in E-flat major op. 44
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
MAHLER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor: JONATHAN STOCKHAMMER
Soloist: PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA – violin
Programme:
Bartók – Divertimento for strings Sz 113/BB 118
Ligeti – Violin Concerto
Ligeti – Romanian Concerto
Hindemith – “Nobilissima Visione” Suite. Ballet in six scenes
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA AMSTERDAM
Conductor: DANIELE GATTI
Soloist: CHEN REISS – soprano
Programme:
Haydn – Symphony No. 82 in C major “The Bear”
Mahler – Symphony no. 4 in G major
SUNDAY 24.09
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
MEMBERS OF MAHLER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Soloist: POLINA LESCHENKO – piano
Programme:
Ligeti – Six Bagatelles for wind quintet
Ligeti – Trio for violin, horn and piano
Xenakis– “Dikhtas” for violin & piano
Kurtág – Wind Quintet
Enescu – Piano quartet no. 2 in d minor op. 30 (1943-1944)
The Quartet no. 2 op. 30 was completed in 1944 and dedicated to the memory of Gabriel Fauré, George Enescu’s composition professor.
“In the quartet, Enescu takes […] the amalgamation of piano timbre to the group of strings, thus renouncing the classical opposition between them.” (Pascal Bentoiu, Breviar enescian)
Time 16.30 The Romanian Athenaeum
RECITALS AND CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
MAXIM VENGEROV – violin
VAG PAPIAN – piano
Programme:
Brahms – Scherzo in c minor from the “F.A.E.” Sonata
Brahms – Sonata no. 3 for violin and piano in d minor op. 108
Enescu – Sonata no. 2 for violin and piano in f minor op. 6
“With The Second Sonata for violin and piano, […] I felt I was finally becoming free”. (George Enescu, in “Memories of George Enescu”, compiled by Bernard Gavoty)
Franck – Sonata for violin and piano in A major
Time 19.30 Grand Palace Hall
GREAT ORCHESTRAS SERIES
ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA AMSTERDAM
Conductor: DANIELE GATTI
Soloist: LIVIU PRUNARU – violin
Programme:
Weber – “Euryanthe” Overture (Performed together with the members of the Romanian National Youth Orchestra as part of the “Side by Side” program)
Enescu – “Caprice Roumain” for violin and orchestra (1925-1949) (arrangement by Cornel Țăranu)
“The work could have been a good sister to Sonata no. 3 and it would have fully deserved the subtitle on popular Romanian themes. We are glad that we were able to bring these wonderful pages by Enescu to life, full of his nostalgia for his beloved native land of Moldova, which he did not have the chance to see ever again.” (Cornel Țăranu, “Enescu in the light of an unfinished work”, in the magazine Muzica)
Prokofiev – Symphony no. 5 in B-flat major op. 100