George Enescu - the greatest Romanian composer of all time, a true emblem of Romanian musical culture, and, at once, a towering violinist of the 20th century, conductor, and mentor - is remembered seventy years after his passing, on May 4th, 2025.

Radio România Muzical pays tribute ahead of this solemn anniversary through a special broadcast series within the program Polyphonies (Monday to Friday, 1:05 PM - 3:25 PM). From April 28th to June 20th, Enescu's most important compositions will echo across the airwaves, accompanied by the insightful commentaries of the late Pascal Bentoiu - the revered interpreter of Enescu's artistic universe. Originally aired in 2005, these reflections have since been gathered in the Enescian Breviary, published in 2017 by Casa Radio Publishing House.

On May 4th, a full day becomes Enescu Day at Radio România Muzical - a celebration of the man and the musician. We invite listeners to journey into his world, to rediscover Enescu through his music, and through the voices of those who have studied his life and genius from many angles. Between 10:00 AM-1:00 PM and 2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Florica Jalbă and Ioana Marghita share conversations with those touched by Enescu's legacy: conductor Cristian Mandeal, famed for his recordings with Enescu's music; pianist Raluca Știrbăț, who recorded Enescu's piano works and she saved his mother's home in Mihăileni; violinist Ladislau Csendes, a member of the National Council College for the Study of the Securitate Archives; conductor Victor Dumănescu, who performed for the first time the cantata La vision de Saül - the well-known music piece of Enescu; musicologist Vlad Văidean, the most important exegete of the Enescu creation from the young generation; Matei Bănică, director of Grafoart Publishing House; conductor Gabriel Bebeșelea, who has revived numerous hidden treasures of Enescu's oeuvre; pianist Ștefan Doniga, whose grandfather once knew Enescu personally.

At 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 7:00 PM, tune in to In the Universe of Music with Ana-Maria Sandi, a 2016 series crafted by Cristina Comandașu. Ana-Maria Sandi is Enescu's niece, and his only surviving blood relative (along with her daughter), the daughter of Enescu's half brother, the painter Dumitru Bâșcu.

And at 8:30 PM, we invite you to listen to Enescu's masterpiece, Oedipe, in a stirring 2024 recording from the new production at the National Opera in Bucharest, with baritone Ionuț Pascu in the title role.