Gramophone Awards 2025
Finalist - Orchestral

Orchestre National de France, Cristian Măcelaru

DG present a new recording of fascinating repertoire completely new to the Universal Music catalogue: Symphonies No. 1–3 by George Enescu, plus his most well-known works, the Romanian Rhapsodies. GRAMMY® Award winning conductor Cristian Măcelaru, Artistic Director of the George Enescu Festival, and his Orchestre National de France are the perfect ambassadors for the symphonic works by 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 much loved, the three symphonies are yet to be discovered as truly centre pieces of the symphonic repertoire.

"It's quite a journey, as the languorous finale of the Third Symphony demonstrates (its huge forces include organ and chorus), and Mӑcelaru captures the visionary aspects of the score in an unquestionably important addition to the composer’s discography." - BBC Music Magazine, July 2024