Rave reviews for Cristian Măcelaru’s Enescu album on Deutsche Grammophon

Photo Credit: Christophe Abramowitz / Radio France

Rave reviews are pouring in for Cristian Măcelaru and the Orchestre National de France’s Deutsche Grammophon release of George Enescu’s symphonic works, featuring Symphonies Nos. 1-3 and Romanian Rhapsodies Nos. 1 and 2.

WRTI wrote:

“[Măcelaru] applies the same lightness of touch and innate sense of pacing to the music of his countryman George Enescu.”

“Like a parent untangling their child’s shoelaces moments before the school bus arrives, Măcelaru teases clear phrases and lines out of Enescu’s knotty, kaleidoscopic scores with masterful urgency.”

BR Klassik wrote:

“German Romanticism, French Impressionism, and the Bessarabian folk music of Enescu’s homeland all melt together: the totally diverse influences blossom into luxurious soundscapes and an unmistakable personal style.”

“Thanks to Cristian Măcelaru, these lesser-heard masterpieces are presented on a recording of the highest quality. The dedication to his compatriot is discernibly heartfelt.”

Diapason wrote:

“Having found in the musicians of the [Orchestre National de France], the very French playing characteristics that Enescu had tried to ‘capture’ through a thousand indications, Cristian Măcelaru thus had the ideal phalanx ‘to revive the musical ideas’ of Enescu, his ‘personal hero’. Their reading, full of feeling, balancing the mesh of influences and winks, proves him right a thousand times over.”

CHOC Classica wrote:

“When compared with its few rivals … the new symphonic recording more or less wins every time, thanks to the elegance and finesse of the conducting, the refined colors and the commitment of the musicians, served by a superlative sound recording. And perhaps also thanks to that impalpable feeling of nostalgia that Măcelaru imbues this music with.”

Concerti wrote:

“Exuberant stylistic diversity that amalgamates the most diverse influences: Strauss, Wagner, Ravel, plus a dash of folklore, and all of this integrated into an organically dense composition that constantly comes up with surprises.”

The Classic Review wrote:

“Brilliantly played, and masterfully shaped ... I sense a true partnership in which the orchestra fully understands and believes in Măcelaru’s interpretation.”

Pizzicato wrote:

“There are not many recordings of Enescu’s symphonies, but this one is clearly the best available.”

Online Merker wrote:

“Măcelaru brings not only his technical ability as a conductor, but a personal and deeply felt connection to Enescu’s work as well. His interpretations reveal a profound respect for the composer and his music, in which he offers both a fresh and modern approach to the works. The collaboration between orchestra and conductor is marked by a noticeable synergy, which allows for Enescu’s musical vision to be realized in all its magnificence and complexity. Orchestra and conductor deliver interpretations that are not only technically flawless, but also embossed with a visceral emotional intensity and clear sensitivity to the style. It is clear from this recording that through their excellent musicianship, Măcelaru and the Orchestre National de France have proven themselves to be ambassadors of Enescu’s music. Their passion, engagement, and artistry make this recording a pithy listening pleasure as well as a meaningful contribution to the rediscovery of George Enescu’s symphonic creations.”

Listen to the full album here.