George Enescu International Festival hosting Lumieres d'Europe musical residency, September 1-10

Lumieres d'Europe, a musical residency project led by violinist David Grimal, will once again be hosted this year by the George Enescu International Festival, running from Monday until 10 September.

According to ARTEXIM, the project, organised in partnership with the Bucharest National University of Music, will focus in this edition on the "Resistance and Freedom" theme.

Fifteen young musicians from across Europe have been selected for the residency. They will work in Bucharest alongside renowned artists: Itamar Golan (piano), David Grimal (violin), Natasha Tchitch (viola), Leonid Gorokhov (cello) and Cesar Viana (composer-in-residence).

These five internationally acclaimed musicians will mentor the talented young participants in performing works composed by artists inspired by the ideals of resistance and freedom, including Enescu, Shostakovich, Partos, Schnittke, Silvestrov, Schulhoff, Veress, Viana and Weinberg. The audience will also have the opportunity to hear the world premiere of an original work by composer-in-residence Cesar Viana.

Throughout the project, philosopher Paul Audi and essayist and political philosopher Nicolas Tenzer will give lectures. At the end of the residency, the young musicians will perform in concerts alongside their mentors.

Together, they will explore the powerful theme of "Resistance and Freedom" through music, interdisciplinary dialogue and collective reflection. According to the organisers, the concerts, discussions, and public events aim to highlight 'how art and knowledge can illuminate the path toward a freer and more self-aware society.'

Events will take place at the Bucharest National University of Music and the French Institute, with free admission.

The first edition of Lumieres d'Europe in Romania was held in 2023, also in Bucharest during the Enescu Festival. It offered 14 selected musicians the opportunity to take part in multidisciplinary sessions and perform alongside renowned artists.

The 27th edition of the George Enescu International Festival, held under the theme "Celebrations," runs until 21 September, marking 70 years since the death of the great composer and musician.

AGERPRES National News Agency is a longstanding media partner of the event.