OTD in Music History: Multi-talented Romanian musical giant George Enescu (1881 – 1955) dies in Paris. Enescu -- a composer, conductor, violinist, and teacher of the first rank -- remains a strangely obscure figure even today in many “classical” music circles, given that his profound musical genius was hailed by many of his greatest and most famous peers. A small sampling of the accolades that he drew forth from fellow legends in the field of “classical” music includes the following: Cellist and Conductor Pablo Casals (1876 – 1973): “Enescu is the greatest musical phenomenon since Mozart, and he is one of the greatest geniuses of modern music.” Violinist and Conductor Yehudi Menuhin (1916 – 1999, who was also Enescu's most famous pupil): "Enescu will remain for me the absoluteness through which I judge others … he gave me the light that has guided my entire existence … he was the most extraordinary human being, the greatest musician, and the most formative influence that I have ever encountered.” Composer Vincent d’Indy (1851 – 1931): “If Beethoven’s collective works were ever destroyed, they could all be reconstructed from memory by Enescu.” Pianist Alfred Cortot (1877 – 1962): “Enescu [who, for all of his many musical gifts, was not primarily known for being a pianist] actually has better piano technique than my own.” PICTURED: A beautiful large publicity photo showing the middle-aged Enescu, which he signed and inscribed to Alice Chalifoux, the principal harpist of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1931 – 1974. Enescu was a regular guest conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra for many years.
George Enescu and Constantin Brâncuși in Paris, 1947, at the Romanian Embassy (Enescu and Brâncuși chatting at min. 0:52)
