Eight evenings of open-air classical music concerts at the „George Enescu” Festival Square.
The Festival Square is part of the series of projects of the George Enescu Festival, the world’s third most important musical event, after the BBC Proms and the Lucerne Festival. Initiated to celebrate this significant event of Bucharest through a concert with free access, together with all the residents and tourists of the city, the Festival Square brings to the center of Bucharest, near Athenaeum, on the stage of the „George Enescu” Square, the best-rated orchestras, ensembles and conductors from Romania.
Daily open-air classical music concerts during George Enescu Festival Square
From the program of this year’s edition of the Festival Square, the organizers announce daily concerts on the stage in front of the Romanian Athenaeum, supported by orchestras, choirs, conductors, renowned voices and instrumentalists from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, as well as performances by renowned artists, such as pianist Mădălina Paşol, violinist Alexandru Tomescu, who will take the stage with pianist Sînziana Mircea and cellist Ştefan Cazacu, flautist Matei Ioachimescu, who will perform together with the PERCUSSIONescu trio, and, last but not least, Zoli Toth, as soloist of the closing concert of the Royal Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Constantin Grigore.
The Piața Festivalului 2023 debuts on the chords of classical music on Sunday, September 17, with the performance of the „Dinu Lipatti” State Philharmonic Orchestra from Satu Mare, which performs alongside cellist Constantin Borodin, under the baton of conductor Azis Sadikovic, program at 8:00 p.m., in the „George Enescu Festival Square”. The edition’s concerts continue on Monday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m., with the chamber recital by Rafael Butaru, Mircea Lazăr, Mădălina Fara and Cristiana Mihart.
Alexandru Tomescu performs in front of the audience in „George Enescu” Square on Monday, September 18, from 8:30 p.m., during the WIND WATER EARTH concert, together with Sînziana Mircea and Ștefan Cazacu. Another unique moment of this year’s program at the Festival Square is the recital of the scholarship holders of the Royal Margaret Foundation of Romania, which will take place on Tuesday, September 19. Musicians at the beginning of their journey who were selected within the national „Young Talents” program will perform on the stage in front of the Romanian Athenaeum on Tuesday, September 19, starting at 19:00. The event is part of a series of actions to affirm and promote young artists at the beginning of their journey, supported in their artistic development by the Royal Margareta Foundation of Romania.
The musical program continues from 20:00 with a piano recital by the artist Mădălina Pașol from the repertoire, which includes musical compositions signed by Frederic Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninov, and Franz Liszt. An absolute „rockstar” of classical music, known to the international public for his creative interpretation and for the way he conveys emotion and interaction with the audience, the flutist Matei Ioachimescu comes to the Festival Square in the company of the exceptional chamber group PERCUSSIONescu. Combining creativity with outstanding technique, the three artists explore new musical territories, offering audiences an entirely new sound experience.
The series of live concerts at the „George Enescu” Festival Square is followed on Wednesday, September 20, by the BRD Evening – „From Renaissance Music to Classical and Electronic Music,” and the Chamber Choir concert „Preludiu – Voicu Enăchescu” program at 19:00. The choral group presented more than 2,500 concerts on the big stages in Romania and abroad, during more than 90 tours in 30 countries in Europe, America and Asia, being awarded at several international festivals. The AEDEA trio, formed by Oana Berbec, Teodora Chircă and Sofia Bejenari, will have an open concert at 8:00 p.m. The evening continues from 21:00 with a story of the evolution of music, from Bach to today’s electronic music, presented by Paul Ilea in the „Sync The Classics” concert.
On Thursday, September 21, from 20:00, the public will enjoy a varied musical program performed by the artists of the „Serghei Lunchevici” National Philharmonic from the Republic of Moldova. Tatiana Costiuc, Marin Gheraș, Sergiu Mușat, Viorica Agafița, Eugen Negruță, and Andrei Iurcu will bring to the foreground compositions by famous authors Astor Piazzolla, Fantezia Carmen, Frederick Loewe or George Gershwin.
On Friday, September 22, from 8:00 p.m., a unique ensemble in the Romanian musical landscape, Big Band Radio Romania, will perform conducted by Simone Strungaru. Made up of elite musicians and the best instrumentalists of the young generation, Big Radio Romania has performed on the stage of many festivals in the country and abroad alongside Josephine Baker, Cliff Richard, Marie Laforêt, Juliette Gréco, Ray Charles, Aura Urziceanu, Anca Parghel and Elena Mîndru.
The penultimate evening at the Festival Square is reserved for the concert performed by the artist Miruna Ionescu, accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra.
ii „Ion Dumitrescu” from Râmnicu Vâlcea, directed by Tiberiu Oprea. The concert on Saturday, September 23, starts at 8:00 p.m.
On the last evening, Sunday, September 24, at 20:00, one of the most respected Romanian artists, Zoli Toth, will perform. With over 1,300 stage appearances, Zoli Toth is recognized as the artist who constantly pushes the boundaries and brings new concepts to the show. For the closing concert of the Festival Square, the promoter of unconventional percussion music in Romania, the conceptual artist Zoli Toth will create a magical atmosphere together with the Royal Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Constantin Grigore in the concert on Sunday, September 24, from 20:00.
The complete program of the Piaţa Festivalului 2023 is available on www.arcub.ro.
Public access to the concerts in the „George Enescu” Festival Square is free.
„GEORGE ENESCU” FESTIVAL SQUARE SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 17-24, 2023
Sunday, September 17
20.00 – „Dinu Lipatti” State Philharmonic Orchestra, Satu Mare
Conductor: Azis Sadikovic
Soloist: Constantin Borodin – cello
Monday, September 18
19.00 – Operetta Stars (Bianca Ionescu, Andrei Lazar, Gabriela Daha, Valentino Tiron, Anton Zidaru, Alexandru Mihai Burcă – piano)
19.30 – Chamber recital (Rafael Butaru – violin, Mircea Lazăr – violin, Mădălina Fara – cello, Cristiana Mihart – piano)
20.30 – WIND WATER EARTH (Alexandru Tomescu – violin, Sînziana Mircea – piano, Ștefan Cazacu – cello)
Tuesday, September 19
19.00 – Recital of the scholarship holders of the Royal Margaret Foundation of Romania
20.00 – Piano recital by Mădălina Paşol
21.00 – LEGENDS
Matei Ioachimescu – flute & PERCUSSIONescu (Irina Rădulescu – marimba, Andrei Duță – vibraphone)
Wednesday, September 20 – BRD Evening – „From Renaissance music to classical and electronic music”
19.00 – Chamber Choir „Prelude – Voicu Enăchescu”
20.00 – Trio AEDEA (Oana Berbec – soprano, Teodora Chircă – piano, Sofia Bejenari – violin)
21.00 – Paul Ilea – Sync The Classics
Thursday, September 21
20.00 – „Serghei Lunchevici” National Philharmonic, Republic of Moldova
Conductor: Mihail Agafita
Soloists: Tatiana Costiuc – soprano, Marin Gheras – clarinet, Sergiu Mușat – clarinet, Viorica Agafița – violin, Eugen Negruța – accordion, Andrei Iurcu – trumpet
Friday, September 22
20.00 – Radio Romania Big Band
Conductor: Simona Strungaru
Saturday, September 23
20.00 – „Ion Dumitrescu” Philharmonic Orchestra, Râmnicu Vâlcea
Conductor: Tiberiu Oprea
Soloist: Miruna Ionescu – voice
Sunday, September 24
20.00 – Royal Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Constantin Grigore
Soloist: Zoli Toth – synth, drums & vibes
