Matei Varga, the pianist on this album, won a special prize for the best performance of Enescu's Piano Sonata, Op. 24, at the George Enescu Competition in Bucharest.
Cultural Impact
Asteroid 9493, located between Mars and Jupiter, is formally named George Enescu, honoring the Romanian composer.
Composer Biography
George Enescu, born in 1881 in newly formed Romania, grew up in a cultural melting pot influenced by various Christian churches, Jewish, and Gypsy populations.
Composer Biography
Pablo Casals, a renowned cellist, described George Enescu as 'the most amazing musician since Mozart'.
Composer Biography
Yehudi Menuhin, a celebrated violinist, stated that George Enescu remained 'the greatest musician and the most formative influence I have ever received'.
Compositional Technique
Enescu's 'Carillon nocturne' is notable for its original use of tone colors, recreating the sound of large bells by embedding diminished and augmented octaves.
Cultural Impact
George Enescu's image has appeared on Romania's postage stamps and banknotes, and his name designates his native commune and an international airport.
