ROMANIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK TO HOST GEORGE ENESCU FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK, 1-4 DECEMBER 2005
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/brookcenter/EnescuProgram.htm
The Romanian Cultural Institute in New York in partnership with Ecumest Romania is organizing The George Enescu Festival in New York between 1-4 December 2005, an event co-sponsored by The Barry S. Brook Center for Music Research and Documentation at The Graduate Center, City University of New York & Mannes College The New School for Music. The festival, which consists of an academic conference, several concerts and other events, commemorates 50 years since the death of George Enescu (1881–1955), Romania’s greatest composer, violinist, conductor, and teacher.
Throughout his life Enescu kept returning to New York, performing as a violinist and conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1936, he was one of the candidates considered to replace Toscanini as its permanent conductor. After World War II he gave lessons at the David Mannes School of Music. The conference, which will take place at The Graduate Center, City University of New York on December 2 and at The Romanian Cultural Institute on December 3, will examine the political and cultural context in which Enescu operated in his native country, in Europe, and in the United States. Enescu’s life and work will be evoked by musical personalities who have known him personally against a photo exhibition at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York. The recitals and keynote lectures include top Romanian musicians like Sherban Lupu, Dinu Ghezzo, Lori Wallfisch, Ilinca Dumitrescu, Cristina Stanescu, Cornel Taranu, alongside young talents such as Matei Varga and Ruxandra Cristea. Andrei Serban features as a special guest of the Festival and will lecture on Enescu’s Oedipe. Privire din interior / Looking from Inside: George Enescu – Oedipe – Andrei Serban by Florin Mihailescu, a film of Serban’s rehearsals for the Oedipe production at the Romanian National Opera in Bucharest, will be screened at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York.
The Festival will close with a special concert by Sherban Lupu and Ilinca Dumitrescu, leading performers of Enescu’s work, at Merkin Concert Hall on December 4. The organizers of the Festival that is celebrating both Enescu and Romania’s National Day are expecting the official participation of Mr. Valentin Naumescu, State Secretary for Public Diplomacy in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.