Spain Massenet, Manon: Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 24.4.2023. (SS)
Michael Fabiano milks Liceu’s Manon for every last melodramatic drop
Seb Smallshaw
Round-up of the George Enescu Festival 2021
Round-up of the George Enescu Festival 2021
In recent years a biennial event, the George Enescu Festival has been lucky with the coronavirus pandemic: the last festival was held in 2019, six months before the first lockdown. The 25th edition of the festival, held in September 2021, then came along as the vaccines have offered a light at the end of the tunnel, at least for the world’s richest countries. Even with some of these countries being among the most vaccine-hesitant (Romania has the second-lowest vaccination rate in the EU), the festival was able to go ahead with nearly full halls, thanks to a safety concept that mandated the EU digital COVID certificate for entry and the wearing of masks during performances. With these measures in place, the festival ran for four weeks – the longest duration in its history – and saw 78 concerts performed by 3,500 artists in Bucharest, including 32 orchestras from 14 countries.
Day 26 of the George Enescu Festival: Sonya Yoncheva and Malcolm Martineau
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [9]: Sonya Yoncheva (soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano). Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest, 22.9.2021. (SS)
Day 24 of the George Enescu Festival: Christoph Eschenbach and the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [8] – Korngold, Bruckner: Renaud Capuçon (violin), Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Christoph Eschenbach (conductor). Sala Palatului, Bucharest, 20.9.2021. (SS)
Day 22 of the George Enescu Festival: Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [7] – Mahler: Wiebke Lehmkuhl (contralto), Romanian Radio Children’s Choir, Choir of the George Enescu Philharmonic, Tonhalle Orchester Zurich / Paavo Järvi (conductor). Sala Palatului, Bucharest, 18.9.2021. (SS)
Day 22 of the George Enescu Festival: Alisa Weilerstein and the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [6]: Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Tiberiu Soare (conductor), Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra. Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest, 18.9.2021. (SS)
Day 21 of the George Enescu Festival: David Grimal and Les Dissonances
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [5]: David Grimal (solo violin and concertmaster), Les Dissonances. Sala Palatului, Bucharest, 17.9.2021. (SS)
Day 21 of the George Enescu Festival: Maxim Vengerov and Polina Osetinskaya
Romania George Enescu Festival 2021 [4]: Maxim Vengerov (violin), Polina Osetinskaya (piano). Romanian Athenaeum, Bucharest, 17.9.2021. (SS)
