Tickets for the symphonic concerts and chamber recitals within the 2026 'George Enescu' International Competition have been put up for sale, opening access for the public to one of the most relevant platforms for artistic affirmation at present.

With the theme 'In Search of Excellence,' the anniversary edition of the 'Enescu' Competition brings together some of the most valuable personalities of the international music scene - renowned performers as well as educators committed to passing on artistic excellence to the new generation, ARTEXIM informed on Tuesday.

For this year's edition, classical music lovers can purchase both individual tickets for each concert and four types of subscriptions. Ticket prices start from 75 lei.

The General Subscription includes seats at 15 events: six symphonic concerts, three semi-finals and six chamber recitals. Category 1 is priced at 2,100 lei, Category 2 at 1,665 lei and Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners at 880 lei.

The Symphonic Concert Subscription covers six symphonic concerts: the opening concert, two masterclass concerts and three finals. Category 1 is priced at 960 lei, Category 2 at 768 lei and Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners stands at 400 lei.

The Chamber Recital Subscription includes six recitals. Category 1 is priced at 865 lei, Category 2 at 720 lei and Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners at 385 lei.

The Semi-final Subscription includes three semi-finals with chamber orchestra. Category 1 is priced at 435 lei, Category 2 at 360 lei and Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners at 193 lei.

Individual tickets for symphonic concerts are priced per concert at 200 lei for Category 1, 160 lei for Category 2 and 80 lei for Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners.

Individual tickets for recitals are priced per recital at 180 lei for Category 1, 150 lei for Category 2 and 75 lei for Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners.

Individual tickets for semi-finals are priced per recital at 180 lei for Category 1, 150 lei for Category 2 and 75 lei for Category 2 with a 50% discount for pupils, students and pensioners.

Students, pupils and teachers from music schools and universities across the country benefit from free access on the basis of their school or service ID, subject to availability.

Persons with disabilities, together with their companions, also benefit from free access subject to availability, in accordance with the law.

Tickets and subscriptions for the concerts and recitals organised within the George Enescu International Competition can be purchased via the ticketing platform www.eventim.ro, as well as in physical format from Carturesti and Humanitas bookshops.

The organisers do not assume responsibility for tickets and subscriptions purchased from other unofficial ticketing platforms.

The organisers of the 'George Enescu' International Competition offer free access to the preliminary stages of all instrumental sections of the competition, which will take place at the National University of Music in Bucharest, and to the first part of the semi-finals at the Romanian Athenaeum, with no prior registration required.

***
Maestro Cristian Macelaru, artistic director of the 'George Enescu' International Festival and Competition, has devised for this edition six chamber recitals and six symphonic concerts, performed by established artists and laureates of previous editions, between 23 August and 19 September, with the Romanian Athenaeum hosting this series of events that brings together established artists, jury members and recent laureates, a rare blend of experience, artistic authority and emerging energy.

The opening concert on 23 August will feature the winners of the 2024 edition - three names confirming the 'Enescu' Competition's role as a global launching pad: violinist Mayumi Kanagawa, Japanese cellist Yo Kitamura and Ukrainian pianist Roman Lopatynskyi.

The programme includes Brahmsodia - Triple Concerto by Dan Dediu for violin, cello, piano and orchestra, Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 13 by George Enescu and, in a world premiere, the work The Stone and the Ivy by Diego Santamaria, awarded the Originality Prize at the 2024 edition. Maestro Cristian Macelaru will conduct the National Radio Orchestra.

Cristian Macelaru will also conduct the Romanian Youth Orchestra on 28 August, when the final concert of the conducting masterclass will take place, alongside three conductors selected from among the active participants in the masterclass.

Alongside the competition itself, the 2026 edition brings to the stage guest artists who define the international standards of contemporary interpretative excellence: cellist Claudio Bohorquez, pianist Peter Nagy and Nelson Goerner are just some of the names who will give chamber recitals within the Competition.

The public will also have the opportunity to listen to artists who, beyond their solo careers, play an essential role in training new generations such as violinist Mihaela Martin, cellist Frans Helmerson and cellist Claudio Bohorquez. In the same vein is the presence of artists such as Nemanja Radulovic, winner of the 2001 edition of the 'Enescu' Competition, or Alissa Margulis.

Laureates of previous editions will also take to the competition stage, such as violinist Hyeonjeong Lee and cellist Stefan Cazacu, artists who illustrate the path from international debut to the consolidation of a career.

One of the most influential conductors on the international scene, Marin Alsop, will conduct, in a Romanian premiere, the concert dedicated to the Composition Section on 27 August, in a programme devoted to contemporary music and new creative voices, with composer and pianist Zygmunt Krauze appearing on stage alongside the National Radio Orchestra.

A first of this edition is represented by the semi-finals of the instrumental sections - cello on 5 September, violin on 11 September and piano on 17 September - which will take place in a play-conduct format, an innovative formula in which competitors perform and conduct the Radio Chamber Orchestra at the same time.

The finals will be conducted by Case Scaglione, at the desk of the National Radio Orchestra for the cello section final on 7 September, Harry Ogg, at the desk of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra for the violin section final on 13 September 2026 and Daniela Candillari, at the desk of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra for the piano section final on 19 September 2026, three personalities of the new generation of conductors.

Organised for the first time in 1958, at the same time as the 'George Enescu' International Festival, the 'George Enescu' International Competition is one of the most important international launching platforms for the world's future leading musicians.

Since 2014, the 'George Enescu' International Competition has become a distinct event from the festival and is organised every two years, alternating with the years in which the 'Enescu' Festival takes place.

The 20th anniversary edition confirms the position of the 'George Enescu' International Competition among the elite of global music competitions and reaffirms its essential role in discovering and shaping the future personalities of the international stage.

A cultural project organised by ARTEXIM and financed by the Romanian Government through the Ministry of Culture, the 'George Enescu' International Competition is an event held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania. Co-organiser is the ArtProduction Foundation. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)