Parisian Nights, Romanian Echoes
- RCI USA
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Opening Concert of the 2026 Enescu Soirées | Printemps de la Francophonie 2026
About The Event
The Romanian Cultural Institute New York opens its 2026 Enescu Soirées music series with a special evening presented as part of the Printemps de la Francophonie 2026 cultural season and organized under the patronage of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) in New York. Designed as a celebration of artistic dialogue across cultures, Parisian Nights, Romanian Echoes brings together French, Romanian, and American musical voices in a program that reflects the enduring cultural ties of the Francophone world.
Performed by acclaimed Romanian cellist Valentin Răduțiu and Korean-American pianist Yoon Lee, the concert highlights the spirit of transatlantic exchange that has long shaped musical life between Europe and the United States. Together, they bring to life music that reflects elegance, imagination, and the enduring power of artistic exchange.
The program begins with George Enescu’s evocative Nocturne & Saltarello, capturing the lyrical elegance of Paris and the vibrant energy of Eastern Europe. A tribute to legendary pedagogue and composer Nadia Boulanger follows with her Three Pieces for Cello and Piano, honoring the mentor who profoundly influenced generations of composers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Celebrating Women’s History Month, the program also features the lyrical Romance, Op. 23 by pioneering American composer Amy Beach, presented in a version for cello and piano. The evening culminates with the sweeping romantic architecture of César Franck’s celebrated Sonata in A Major, performed in the renowned cello transcription by Jules Delsart.
Through this elegant musical journey, the concert reflects Romania’s vibrant place within the Francophone cultural space while celebrating the universal language of music—one that transcends borders, generations, and traditions.
Program
George Enescu — Nocturne & Saltarello
Nadia Boulanger — Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
Amy Beach — Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23 (arranged for cello and piano)
César Franck — Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano (transcription for cello by Jules Delsart)
Meet the Musicians
Romanian cellist Valentin Răduțiu is celebrated for his expressive depth and international career as a soloist and chamber musician. He trained in Salzburg, Vienna, and Berlin with Clemens Hagen, Heinrich Schiff, and David Geringas, and has performed with orchestras including the Czech Philharmonic, SWR Stuttgart, and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, under conductors such as Gustavo Gimeno and Cristian Măcelaru. His recordings include the complete works for cello and piano by George Enescu. A dedicated mentor, he was appointed Professor of Cello at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in 2025. Valentin Răduțiu performs on a historic 1686 Francesco Ruggieri cello from Cremona.
Praised by New York Concert Review for performances “equal to Beethoven’s virtuosic demands,” Yoon Lee has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Château de Fontainebleau, the Schumann-Haus Museum in Leipzig, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center, among venues throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her performances have been broadcast on WQXR and KBS, South Korea’s national television network. As a soloist, she has performed with the Carl Maria von Weber Orchestra of Dresden, the Camerata Forum Internacional (Spain), the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra of South Korea, and the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra. A sought-after collaborative artist, Yoon has worked with Shmuel Ashkenasi, Timothy Eddy, Colin Carr, Astrid Schween, Catherine Cho, Laurie Smukler, Zlatomir Fung, Tommy Mesa, Stella Chen, and Timothy Choi. She holds a DMA from the Manhattan School of Music and a Graduate Diploma from The Juilliard School and is currently on faculty at the Heifetz International Music Institute and a pianist at The Juilliard School.
