George Enescu - Symphonies 1–3

GRAMMY® Award winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director of the Enescu Festival, and his Orchestre National de France are the perfect ambassadors for the symphonic works by George Enescu (1881–1955). Enescu, composer and violin virtuoso was teacher of Yehudi Menuhin, lived in Romania, the US and France. Inspired by the musical heritage of his home country he created a completely unique oeuvre. Pablo Casals called him „The most amazing musician since Mozart“. And while the Romanian Rhapsodies (especially No.1) included here are real hits of classical music, the three symphonies are yet to be discovered as truly centre pieces of the symphonic repertoire.

"The five compositions presented here offer perfect examples of the artistic development of one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. From the youthful brilliance of the Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 to the profound, ethereal, philosophical ending of the Third Symphony, one can discover and relive the journey of this great genius, and my personal hero, George Enescu." — Christian Măcelaru

Tracklist:
CD 1
Romanian Rhapsodies op. 11
1  No. 1 in A major
2  No. 2 in D major
Symphony No. 1 in E flat major op. 13
3  1. Assez vif et rythmé
4  2. Lent
5  3. Vif et vigoureux

CD 2
Symphony No. 2 in A major op. 17
1  1. Vivace, ma non troppo
2  2. Andante giusto
3  3. Un poco lento, marziale –
4  Allegro vivace, marziale

CD 3
Symphony No. 3 in C major op. 21
1  1. Moderato, un poco maestoso
2  2. Vivace, ma non troppo
3  3. Lento, ma non troppo