“The 21st century will be the century of Enescu” - Yehudi Menuhin Without doubt Romania’s most famous composer, George Enescu is now celebrated in Bucharest every two years with a major international festival and competition in his honour. First held in 1958 - just three years after the composer’s death, the festival attracts major ensembles and artists and includes in its main concerts at least one work by Enescu, alongside a myriad of other events. Until his death in 1999 Lord Yehudi Menhuin was the festival’s president, as he had studied violin with Enescu, and had always championed his works. The festival stands by tradition in opening with a six-day Enescu competition concentrating on areas of Enescu’s special interests - violin, piano and string quartet in performance and, in composition, works for orchestra or chamber ensemble. On the previous editions many artists and famous orchestras were acclaimed for the concerts offered in the “Romanian Atheneum Hall” and “the Royal Palace Hall” like Pablo Casals, Alfred Cortot, Herbert von Karajan, Wilhelm Kempff, Fyodor Shalyapin, Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Ricardo Muti, Christophe Eschenbach, Claus Peter Flor, Aldo Ciccolini, London Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker Orchestra, Scala di Milano, Bayerischer Rundfunk Symphonie Orchester, Sankt Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. During the whole period there are events in Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei) while the full concert program includes concerts throughout the festival at both the Royal Palace Hall and the Romanian Atheneum Hall.

Day 1, Thursday: Arrival at Bucharest airport.

Welcome by our local guide and transfer to your hotel in the city center. Welcome cocktail and briefing of the forthcoming days. Depending on your flight arrival a short tour of the old city can be organized including lunch in a traditional restaurant. Dinner will be served earlier around 18:00 so as to attend at 19:30 at Palace Grand Hall, where you will listen to MANON LESCAUT by Giacomo Puccini, Libretto by Domenico Oliva, Orchestra and Choir of the Bucharest National Opera.

Day 2, Friday: Full day in Bucharest.

Half-day sightseeing tour of Bucharest and visit of the Village Museum (an outdoor display of genuine farmers’ houses, wooden churches and windmills open since 1936) and George Enescu Museum former Cantacuzino Palace or House with Lions, which belonged to Grigore Cantacuzino the wealthiest man at that time. Nowadays, it houses the George Enescu Museum - here the great musician lived and created. Lunch in a fancy restaurant. Afternoon visit of the National Art Museum (in the Royal Palace). Free time and afterwards at 19:30 transfer to Palace Grand Hall  to listen to Opera. ORCHESTRA DEL MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO, conductor: CRISTIAN MANDEAL, Soloist : NIKOLAI LUGANSKY, Program:
Schumann – Overture to "Genoveva" op. 81 in c minor
Beethoven - Concerto no. 4 for piano and orchestra in G Major op. 58
Strauss – "Also sprach Zarathustra" op. 30

Day 3, Saturday: After breakfast departure to Sinaia.

Arrival in Sinaia, visit of the Peles Castle - former summer residence of the King’s family in Romania (built in 1875 and the most beautiful in the S-E of Europe), the place where George Enescu enchanted Queen Elisabeth with his beautiful music. Afterwards visit of the Luminis vila, where the artist composed the great deal of his masterpieces. For a half an hour we will delight ourselves with a camber music concert held in the very house of the composer. After lunch we head back to Bucharest and stop to visit Caldarusani monastery, a fortified monastery - from the 17th century painted by the well-known Romanian artist Nicolae Grigorescu. Arrival in Bucharest, transfer at 19.30 for concert at Palace Grand Hall:   PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Conductor: VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY
Soloist: LYNN HARRELL
Program: Enescu - Concertante symphony for cello and orchestra op. 8 in b minor
Debussy - « L\'Apres-midi d\'un faune »
Debussy - « La Mer »

Day 4, Sunday:

After breakfast we visit the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world. Afterwards, we head for Mogosoaia Palace, built in 1702 by Constantin Brancoveanu where we will also serve lunch. Return to Bucharest and free afternoon in order to prepare yourself for a final concert performance at 19.30 at the Romanian Atheneum: Series "Chamber Music"
SAINT MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
Soloist and Conductor: MURRAY PERAHIA
Program: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven

Day 5, Monday: Full day at your disposal.

You can go shopping in different places, or enjoy a walk in a local park (we suggest Parc Cismigiu, not far away from your Hotel), or any other ideas that can come out after your discussion with your guide or our office. In the evening you can enjoy the Radio Chamber Orchestra at 17:00 at the Romanian Athenaeum for : Series "Chamber Music" LES MUSICIENS DU LOUVRE
Conductor: MARC MINKOVSKI
Soloists: KATE ROYAL – soprana
COLIN BALZER - tenor
Program: Haydn - "Creation" Oratorio

Day 6, Tuesday:

Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport for the homebound flight.