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George Enescu International Competition

Type: Cello Competitions
Location: Romania
Dates: Aug 23, 2026 - Sep 19, 2026
Audition Webpage

Overview

The Enescu Competition is open to cellists, violinists, pianists and composers born after August 1, 1991. The Conducting and Advanced Music Study Masterclass is open to musicians born after August 1, 1991, and the Instrumental Performance and Composition Masterclass is open to musicians born after August 1, 2001. Register by May 17, 2026, and by June 30, 2026 for the composition and masterclass sections.

 

Repertoire – Cello Section

  • First round: maximum duration 30 minutes
  1. A caprice or étude of the candidate’s choice from:
    • Alfredo Piatti: Caprices Op. 25 (Nos. 2, 3, 6, 7 or 8)
    • David Popper: Étude Op. 73 (Nos. 20, 29 or 33)
  2. Johann Sebastian Bach, chosen by the candidate from:
    • Prelude and Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 3 in C major BWV 1009
    • Prelude and Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 4 in E–flat major BWV 1010
    • Prelude and Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011
    • Prelude and Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6 in D major BWV 1012
  3. A work chosen by the candidate from:
    • George Crumb: Sonata for Solo Cello
    • Paul Hindemith: Sonata for Solo Cello Op. 25 No. 3
    • Zoltán Kodály: Sonata in B minor for Solo Cello Op. 8 (first movement)
    • György Ligeti: Sonata for Solo Cello
    • Krzysztof Penderecki: Divertimento for Solo Cello

 

  • Second round: maximum duration 45 minutes
  1. An imposed work for solo cello (approx. 5 minutes in length)
  2. A sonata of the candidate’s choice from:
    • Johannes Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor Op. 38
    • Johannes Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major Op. 99
    • Benjamin Britten: Cello Sonata in C major Op. 65
    • Claude Debussy: Cello Sonata in D minor L. 135
    • Dmitri Shostakovich: Cello Sonata in D minor Op. 40
  3. A virtuoso piece of the candidate’s choice from:
    • Nadia Boulanger: Vite et nerveusement rythmé in C-sharp minor from Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
    • Karl Davydov: At the Fountain Op. 20 No. 2
    • David Popper: Elfentanz Op. 39
    • David Popper: Spinning Song Op. 55
    • Mstislav Rostropovich: Humoresque Op. 5

 

  • Semifinal:
    structured in two parts
  1. With piano
  1. George Enescu: Cello Sonata No. 2 in C major Op. 26
  2. Soloist and artistic direction with chamber orchestra
  3. A concerto by Joseph Haydn for cello and orchestra, chosen by the candidate from:
    • Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major Hob. VIIb/1
    • Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major Hob. VIIb/2

 

  • Final (with orchestra)
  1. A concerto for cello and orchestra chosen by the candidate from:
    • Antonín Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104
    • Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor Op. 85
    • George Enescu: Symphonie concertante in B minor for Cello and Orchestra Op. 8
    • Sergei Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante in E minor for Cello and Orchestra Op. 125
    • Dmitri Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E–flat major Op. 107