Violin
Romanian Violinist George Enescu
As a child, I have listened to many violinists, through all kinds of styles, from old violinists to the very young ones.
All-day long listening to classical music on the national classical music radio. Or listening to CD’s I was playing a lot. When I cycled to school, I always brought my CD player with me, listening to an amount of violinist, or bringing my cassette recorder on which I recorded a lot of music. I believe there was a recording of Enescu on it as well. But also work from Enescu played by other violinists.
George Enescu was one of the greatest violinists of his century, but not only from his century but also of all times. He was a prodigy, but there were a lot of violinists — of his generation, but also later and earlier generations. It is difficult to say that he was the best as there are so many violinists in the world out there.
Personal life
George Enescu was born 19th of August in 1881 in Liveni, Romania. He died on the 4th of May 1955. Enescu has lived in so many places. He lived in, as he was born there, in Liveni, Dorohoi County (now Botosani County).
His father is Costache Enescu and his mother is Maria Enescu, née Cosmovici. His father was a landholder and his mother was the daughter of an Orthodox priest. After seven children, his parents got George. Later his father remarried Maria Ferdinand-Suschi, and they got a son, the painter Dumitru Bâșcu.
As his siblings before him died, it had an impact on his parent’s life and his parental education.
His musical career
George Enescu started to play the violin at the age of five with his local teacher. At about the same age, he started composing as well. He also started to compose a lot of music for the violin and piano at an early age. These pieces have survived. Thus you can still buy and play these pieces. At this same age, Enescu went to professor composer Eduard Gaudella. When Enescu was seven years old he started to study with Joseph Hellmesberger Jr. and Sigismund Bachrich at the conservatory of Vienna. At the age of ten, he gave his first private concert at the Court of Vienna in presence of Emperor Franz Joseph. Enescu graduated at the age of 12. This is extremely young. Today’s students must have an education of four years after they went to high school. Today’s students are more shaped in education before going to the conservatory. In 1895 he studied in Paris with violin professor Pierre Marsick, harmony with André Gedalge, and composition with Jules Massanet and Gabriel Fauré. Between 1895 en 1899 he studied at the Conservatoire de Paris. In January of 1923, he made his debut in America with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. This was also the time he made recordings as a violinist, which took place in the USA. Enescu had a few talented violinists he taught: Yehudi Menuhin, Christian Ferras, Ivry Gitlis, Arthur Grumiaux, Serge Blanc, Ida Haendel, Uto Ughi, and Joan Field Enescu also wrote a lot of music. For violin and piano, cello and piano, for orchestra and so many more instrumentalists. But one thing is for sure. His music is inspired by the Romanian folksongs. He is really one of the best musicians in the world of all time. Het has taught these students who became also amazing violinists in the world.
Museum and society
As he was a Romanian, in Bucharest there is a palace where he had lived. Now, it is the George Enescu Museum. He lived in Cantacuzino Palace, which is a museum now. “In the ’40s, the palace hosted the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and since 1947 the Institute for Romanian-Soviet Studies. After the death of George Enescu, in 1955, his wife donated the domain to the Museum, to be dedicated to the memory of the musician. Thus, on the 19th of June 1956, the “George Enescu” Museum was opened.”, according to their website.
Also, there is an International Enescu Society: “The International Enescu Society is a non-profit organization fostering research, study, performance, and promotion related to all aspects of George Enescu’s both works and life. Fields of activity include academic conventions, concerts, publications, recordings, and exhibitions. The Enescu society encourages an open exchange of ideas on the composer’s oeuvre and welcomes all private initiatives meant to further broaden the knowledge of all aspects of George Enescu’s artistical and cultural contribution.”, according to the website
One of the greatest violinist in the world
I wouldn’t say he was the best. There are so many talented violinists in the world of all ages, in all years. Before he was born after he was born. Every violinist has his or her own style to play music, but Enescu was definitely an amazing and talented violinist, composer, conductor, and teacher. I really hate it when we say there is one person the best because that is not the truth. There are so many talented musicians of all generations.
Listen to his performance of the Beethoven violin concerto.
With this amazing musical career, you may say he is one of the best violinists in the world.
Listen to a piece written by Enescu played by the Dutch-British violinist Daniel Rowland, who has been taught by Ivry Gitlis (student of Enescu).
This story has been published earlier on Quora.
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
As soon as my Patreon page is ready to be launched, you’ll be the first one who will get notifications when you subscribe to my mailing list and subscribe to my Thoughts.
