Dances of reinvention: Măcelaru and the ONF at the Enescu Festival

Rudolf Buchbinder

Cristian Măcelaru, Rudolf Buchbinder and the Orchestre National de France

By Edward Sava-Segal, 20 September 2025

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“the final collapse arrived with implacable force”

Reviewed at Palace Hall (Sala Palatului), Bucharest on 19 September 2025

Enescu, Romanian Rhapsody no. 2 in D major, Op.11

Gershwin, Piano Concerto in F

Grunfeld, Soirée de Vienne, Op. 56 (Concert Paraphrase on Johann Strauss's Waltzes from Die Fledermaus)

Ravel, Piano Trio in A minor (orch. Yan Pascal Tortelier)

Ravel, La Valse

Saint-Saëns, Samson et Dalila: Bacchanale

Rudolf Buchbinder, Piano

Orchestre National de France

Cristian Măcelaru, Conductor

Spectacular Orchestre National de France program at Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 9th November

Cristian Mǎcelaru elicits enthralling performances from the ONF, Daniil Trifonov blends stunning virtuosity with poetic insight in a crowd-pleasing French program.

*****

Fiesta! Philippe Jordan’s Spanish postcard from the Festival Ravel

Mark Pullinger, 4th September

Born to a Basque mother just ten miles from the Spanish border, Ravel excelled at authentic Spanish flavours as heard in this splendid festival concert by the Orchestre National de France.

*****

Măcelaru and the Orchestre National de France charm at the Proms

Christopher Woodley, 23rd July

Măcelaru's eclectic programming elicits passionate performances from the Orchestre National de France, and Randall Goosby shows his versatility with elegant and impassioned artistry.

****1

Saint-Saëns illuminated by the Orchestre National de France in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 29th April

A sumptuous exploration of Saint-Saëns at Lotte Concert Hall in a programme forming a cohesive tapestry woven from the composer’s fascination with colour, all traced back to a distinctly Parisian sensibility.

****1

Fabien Gabel brings the maison down in Paris with rare Florent Schmitt

Phillip Nones, 12th May

Outstanding performances of two Florent Schmitt scores anchor a winning concert by the Orchestre National de France at the Maison de la Radio.

*****

Kitchen sink Carmen: Măcelaru rounds off the ONF season in style

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

The percussion department of the Orchestre National de France took their turn in the spotlight for Rodion Shchedrin's ballet.

****1

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Edward Sava-Segal

Edward has been living in New York for the last 25 years, one of the reasons being the extraordinarily rich cultural life in this city. He has studied piano and classical music in his early years. He switched later on to computer science and data architecture but he kept an unwavering interest in following the classical music phenomenon here in New York and in his travels. Edward occasionally reviews fine arts events for the most prestigious literary magazine in Romania, his home country.