Canon
Where to start with Enescu
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
Orchestral2 Rhapsodies roumaines, op. 11
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ChamberDecet for 2 flutes, oboe, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and 2 horns in D major, op. 14
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VocalPoème Roumain, for orchestra and wordless chorus, op. 1
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KeyboardNocturne in D flat major
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StageOedipe, op. 23 — Opera
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ChamberViolin Sonata no. 3 in A minor, op. 25, "Dans le caractere populaire roumain"
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Vocal7 Chansons de Clément Marot, for voice and piano, op. 15
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ChamberAirs dans le genre roumin, for violin
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ChamberAllegro in F minor, for cello and piano
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ChamberAndante malinconico, for violin and piano
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ChamberAndante religioso, for 2 cellos and organ
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ChamberAria and Scherzino, for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano
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ChamberAubade in C major, for violin, viola and cello
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OrchestralBallade, for violin and orchestra, op. 4a
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ChamberCantabile and Presto, for flute and piano
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Enescu's catalogueMost Popular
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Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major
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Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor ”in the popular Romanian character”
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Romanian Rhapsody No. 2 in D major
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Piano Suite No. 3 ”Pieces impromptues”
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Violin Sonata No. 2 in F minor
Most Acclaimed
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String Octet in C major Op. 7written age 17 — one of the greatest chamber works of the 20th century
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Violin Sonata No. 3
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Oedipe (opera)his life’s work — 20 years composing
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Chamber Symphony for 12 solo instruments
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Piano Suite No. 2 ”Suita în stil vechi”
Most Weird
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String Octetwritten at 17; the complexity of the counterpoint suggests a composer 30 years older — rarely performed because it’s so difficult
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Oedipeopera covering Oedipus’s entire life — from birth to death; 20 years in composition and rarely staged
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Impressions d\’enfance for violin and pianoprogrammatic childhood scenes including a cricket and a blizzard
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Sonata for piano Op. 24 No. 1
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Vox maris (symphonic poem for tenor, chorus and orchestra)late work; rare
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 64
- Orchestral
- ● 2 Rhapsodies roumaines, op. 11
- Ballade, for violin and orchestra, op. 4a
- Chamber Symphony, for 12 instruments in E major, op. 33
- Concert Overture 'sur des thèmes dans le caractèe populaire roumain,' in A major, op. 32
- Suite Châtelaine
- Suite no. 1 in C major, op. 9
- Suite no. 2 in C major, op. 20
- Suite no. 3 in D, op. 27, "Villageoise"
- Symphonie Concertante, for cello and orchestra in B minor, op. 8
- Symphony no. 1 in E flat major, op. 13
- Symphony no. 2 in A major, op. 17
- Symphony no. 3 for piano, chorus and orchestra in C major, op. 21
- Voix de la Nature
- Chamber
- Decet for 2 flutes, oboe, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and 2 horns in D major, op. 14
- Violin Sonata no. 3 in A minor, op. 25, "Dans le caractere populaire roumain"
- Airs dans le genre roumin, for violin
- Allegro in F minor, for cello and piano
- Andante malinconico, for violin and piano
- Andante religioso, for 2 cellos and organ
- Aria and Scherzino, for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano
- Aubade in C major, for violin, viola and cello
- Cantabile and Presto, for flute and piano
- Cello Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 26, no. 1
- Cello Sonata no. 2 in C major, op. 26, no. 2
- Concert Piece, for viola and piano
- Hora Unirei, for violin and piano
- Impressions d'enfance, for violin and piano in D major, op. 28
- Impromptu concertant, for violin and piano in G flat major
- Légende, for trumpet and piano
- Légende, for violin and piano
- Nocturne et Saltarello, for cello and piano
- Nocturne, for violin, viola, cello and piano, "Villa d'avrayen"
- Pastorale, Menuet Triste et Nocturne, for violin and piano 4 hands
- Piano Quartet no. 1 in D major, op. 16
- Piano Quartet no. 2 in D minor, op. 30
- Piano Quintet in A minor, op. 29
- Piano Trio in A minor
- Prelude and Gavotte, for violin, cello and 2 pianos
- Sarabande, for violin
- Sonata Torso, for violin and piano
- String Octet in C major, op. 7
- String Quartet no. 1 in E flat major, op. 22, no. 1
- String Quartet no. 2 in G major, op. 22, no. 2
- Sérénade en sourdine in E minor, for violin, cello and piano
- Sérénade lointaine, for violin, cello and piano
- Tarantella, for violin and piano
- Trio for violin, cello and piano in A minor
- Trio for violin, cello and piano in G minor
- Violin Sonata in A minor
- Violin Sonata no. 1 in D major, op. 2
- Violin Sonata no. 2 in F minor, op. 6
- Vocal
- Poème Roumain, for orchestra and wordless chorus, op. 1
- 7 Chansons de Clément Marot, for voice and piano, op. 15
- Vox Maris, symphonic poem for soprano, tenor, chorus and orchestra, op. 31
- Keyboard
- Nocturne in D flat major
- Piano Sonata no. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 24
- Piano Sonata no. 3 in D major, op. 24
- Piece for Piano, "Hommage à Gabriel Fauré"
- Prelude and Fugue
- Scherzo
- Suite no. 1 in G minor, op. 3, "Dans le style ancien"
- Suite no. 2 in D major, op. 10
- Suite no. 3, op. 18, "Pièces impromptues"
- Stage
- Oedipe, op. 23 — Opera