The greatest of Romanian musicians, George Enescu was equally remarkable as a violinist and as a composer. He contributed significantly to the development of music in his own country, although much of his activity centred on Paris, where he was a pupil of Marsick and, for composition, of Fauré and Massenet. His violin pupils include Grumiaux, Ferras, Gitlis and Menuhin.

Opera

Enescu’s only opera, Oedipe, draws on Sophocles and on the whole legend of Oedipus, from birth to death. The result of many years of intermittent work, it was first staged in 1936, but has never retained a place in international operatic repertoire. It is a demanding work of remarkable power.

Orchestral Music

Although much that he wrote may be of greater musical significance, Enescu’s most popular composition is the Romanian Rhapsody No. 1. His music, however, is wide in range and includes a variety of works of some substance and originality.

Chamber Music

Enescu wrote chamber music for varying ensembles, including a wind Dixtuor (a work for ten instruments), a String Octet, quartets, trios and duo sonatas. These last include two cello sonatas and three violin sonatas, the third of which has proved popular abroad for its use of Romanian melodic material.