page_title: Romanian Rhapsodies (Enescu)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Romanian Rhapsodies (Enescu) / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Stage of the Ateneul Român in Bucarest This is a photo of a historic monument in București, classified with number B-II-m-A-18789
context_page_description: The two Romanian Rhapsodies, Op. 11, for orchestra, are George Enescu's best-known compositions. They were written in 1901, and first performed together in 1903. The two rhapsodies, and particularly the first, have long held a permanent place in the repertory of every major orchestra. They employ elements of lăutărească music, vivid Romanian rhythms, and an air of spontaneity. They exhibit exotic modal coloring, with some scales having 'mobile' thirds, sixths or sevenths, creating a shifting major/minor atmosphere, one of the characteristics of Romanian music. They also incorporate some material found in the later drafts of his Poème roumaine, Op. 1.
context_section_description: The two Romanian Rhapsodies were composed in Paris, and premiered together in a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest which also included the world premiere of Enescu's First Suite for Orchestra, Op. 9 (1903). The composer conducted all three of his own works, which were preceded on the programme by Berlioz's Overture to Les francs-juges and Schumann's Symphony No. 1, both conducted by Eduard Wachmann. The concert took place on 23 February 1903 (according to the Julian calendar in use in Romania at that time; 8 March 1903 Gregorian). The Second Rhapsody was played first, and Enescu maintained this order of performance throughout his life.
caption: The stage of the Athenaeum in Bucharest
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