Prestigious Enescu music competition opens in Bucharest
AFP
BUCHAREST- The George Enescu International Competition, a classical music contest which has served as a springboard for musicians such as pianists Radu Lupu and Elisabeth Leonskaja, opens on Saturday night in Bucharest.
The contest will welcome 240 artists from 36 countries including Russia, South Korea, Japan, the United States and Germany.
While many classical music competitions are dedicated to just one or two instruments, Enescu has four sections: violin, cello, piano and composition.
"It is like an eulogy for Enescu," said Dan Dediu, a member of the jury.
It is the 14th time the competition has been held.
It first ran in 1958 to pay tribute to the famous Romanian violinist, composer and conductor, who had died three years previously, aged 73.
However, the latest competition marks a departure from previous years as it is the first time it will not take place at the same time as the Enescu festival.
Romanian government budgetary restrictions prevented the competition from taking place last year.
Prizes worth a total of 100,00 euros ($130,000) are on offer for contestants.
During the last Enescu competition in 2011, the main prizes went to Chinese cellist Bonian Tian and three South-Korean composers Kwang Ho Cho, Mihyun Woo and Chang Eunhoont.
The competition ends on Sept. 27.
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"It is like an eulogy for Enescu," said Dan Dediu, a member of the jury.
It is the 14th time the competition has been held.
It first ran in 1958 to pay tribute to the famous Romanian violinist, composer and conductor, who had died three years previously, aged 73.
However, the latest competition marks a departure from previous years as it is the first time it will not take place at the same time as the Enescu festival.
Romanian government budgetary restrictions prevented the competition from taking place last year.
Prizes worth a total of 100,00 euros ($130,000) are on offer for contestants.
During the last Enescu competition in 2011, the main prizes went to Chinese cellist Bonian Tian and three South-Korean composers Kwang Ho Cho, Mihyun Woo and Chang Eunhoont.
The competition ends on Sept. 27.
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