George Enescu International Festival: Classical Music Made Cool

By Monica Tong

07 May, 2025 7:58am GMT+8 / MYT

Alright, young music lovers, get ready to have your minds blown because classical music is about to hit different! 🎶🔥

Welcome to the George Enescu International Festival, where legendary orchestras, jaw-dropping soloists, and high-energy performances collide for a full four weeks of pure musical magic! Running from August 24 to September 21, this festival is THE place to experience world-class classical music in Bucharest—but don’t worry, it’s not all stiff suits and fancy concert halls. It’s a full-on celebration of sound, packed with iconic symphonies, electrifying operas, and even modern genre-bending performances that prove classical music isn’t stuck in the past—it’s shaping the future!

The opening program on Aug 24 will feature the George Enescu Philharmonic Choir conducted by Cristian Macelaru, featuring Dan Dediu’s world premiere of Concerto for orchestra and also Enescu’s Poème roumain Op. 1

This year’s festival is stacked with 95 concerts, featuring major names like Cristian Măcelaru, the Orchestra National de France, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra tearing up the stage. Opera fans, you’re in for a treat—seven epic operas will be performed, including Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. And if you’re feeling a little adventurous, there’s a special tribute to Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, two modern composers who took classical music to a whole new level.

But wait—it’s not just about the big names! The festival also celebrates Romanian talent, with performances from the Romanian Radio National Orchestra and other incredible ensembles from Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just dipping your toes into classical, there’s something here for everyone—from deep, dramatic symphonies to wild percussion-filled performances (yes, there’s even a rockstar percussionist involved!).

So, if you’re looking for a festival that’s big, bold, and guaranteed to leave you speechless, THIS IS IT. Don’t sleep on classical music—it’s way cooler than you think! 🎻✨

Editor’s Choice from the festival program: Keri-Lynn Wilsom to conduct Unkrainian Freedom Orchestra

25 Aug at the Sala Palatului (Palace Hall), Bucharest, Romania – Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra with conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, featuring Alexandra Conunova (violin) and Rachel Willis-Sørensen (soprano). Program to include Maxim Kolomiiets, Max Bruch and Richard Wagner’s Prelude and Lievestod from Tristan and Isolde.

The George Enescu International Festival runs from 24th August to 21st September in Bucharest.

For more details on the full lineup, check out the festival’s official schedule and start bookmarking your must-see concerts, here! 🎵

About the festival

The George Enescu International Festival is bringing the legends back to life in the most EPIC way possible—celebrating Shostakovich (50 years since his passing), Boulez (100 years since his birth), and Ravel (150 years since his birth) alongside Enescu’s masterpieces. If you thought classical music was just background noise for fancy dinner parties, think again—this festival is serving pure iconic energy!

Expect jaw-dropping performances from powerhouse orchestras like the Royal Concertgebouw, London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, and Staatskapelle Dresden. They’re pulling out all the stops to make classical music feel like the blockbuster experience you never knew you needed.

But wait—this isn’t just a tribute to the old-school greats. The festival is all about the future, too! 🎧✨ Young talent takes center stage, with the Romanian Youth Orchestra and Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra performing under legendary conductors like Manfred Honeck and Christian Reif. AND if you love seeing rising stars make history, the winners of the 2024 George Enescu Competition are set to blow everyone away with their next-level skills!

So whether you’re a die-hard classical fan or just someone who lives for dramatic soundtracks, this festival is the place to be. Music that hits different, talent that’s next level, and an atmosphere that’ll leave you speechless. Trust us—you don’t want to miss this! 🎻💜

Ticketing Information for George Enescu International Festival

Tickets for the festival are available on www.eventim.ro, with individual ticket sales beginning on February 15, 2025. Supported by the Romanian Presidency and the Ministry of Culture, the George Enescu International Festival remains a cornerstone of Romania’s cultural identity, showcasing its rich artistic heritage while contributing to the national economy through cultural tourism and international acclaim.