ICR Romanian Cultural Institute London

The Enescu Society in London

George Enescu is widely regarded as the greatest Romanian composer in history. He was also a great concert violinist, a fascinating teacher (Yehudi Menuhin was his most famous student), a conductor of depth and subtlety, an esteemed musicologist and a tireless organizer who took on spectacular tasks such as forming a Philharmonic Orchestra and a Composers' Society in Romania.

Musicologist Pascal Bentoiu about Enescu (Microsoft Word file, 65 KB)
George Enescu - short biography (Microsoft Word file, 611 KB)
George Enescu - His life and music, a book by Noel Malcolm.

In order to promote to UK audiences Enescu's outstanding but insufficiently known contribution to world music heritage, the Romanian Cultural Institute set up and becomed the home of the Enescu Society under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Margarita of Romania. The Enescu Society is as an honorary free association of people who share an appreciation of George Enescu's personality and music achievement.

Patron: HRH Princess Margareta of Romania
President: Christian Mandeal, conductor
Executive Director: Dorian Branea, Director Romanian Cultural Institute London
Artistic Director: Remus Azoitei, violinist & violin professor at the Royal Academy of Music
Board members:
Pascal Bentoiu, composer, musicologist & Enescu historian
Serban Cantacuzino, architect
Evan Dickerson, music critic
Christopher Eimer, historian and art critic
Sherban Lupu, violinist, professor at the University of Illinois (USA)
Noel Malcolm, historian and writer
Gabriela Massaci, cultural diplomat, founding director Enescu Society
Andrew Popper, banker

The Society organizes a programme of concerts, offer scholarships, promote and support the printing of Enescu music scores, books and articles about the composer.

The Enescu Society opened in the presence of HRH Princess Margarita of Romania, HSH Prince Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen, Mr Anton Niculescu, State Secretary, Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Horia-Roman Patapievici, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute.

On this occasion, acclaimed musicians Remus Azoitei (violin) and Eduard Stan (piano) gave a chamber concert of Enescu music, and launched and signed the first CD of the Entire Repertoire for Violin and Piano by Enescu, a world premiere project.
Programme:
Sonata in A Minor "Torso", 1911
Moderato
Impressions d'enfance, op. 28 (Impressions of Childhood), 1940 Fiddler
Old beggar
Stream at the bottom of the garden
The bird in the cage and the cuckoo on the wall
Lullaby
Cricket
Moonlight through the windows
Wind in the chimney
Storm outside, at night
Sunrise

A retrospective view of Enescu Society's first year.

Click here for information about The "George Enescu" International Festival in Romania and to read the article about the festival in The Guardian.

When: Launch: 21 June, 6.30 pm
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X8PH