In 1950, the great conductor Constantin Silvestri, then director of the George Enescu Philharmonic, founded the Choir. The ensemble has sustained a rich performance schedule ever since. Its vast repertoire includes a capella, vocal and symphonic works belonging to different musical periods ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary music. The first conductors of the Choire were masters Stefan Muresanu, D. D. Botez and Vasile Pantea.

The vast repertoire, continuous preoccupation with perfection, and careful selection of the musicians, as well as collaboration with prestigious conductors, are all elements that have contributed to the distinct artistic profile of the Choir of the George Enescu Philharmonic.

Soon after the choir had been established, the quartet of vocalists was created. Over time this group of soloists included artists like Emilia Petrescu, Elena Cernei, Marta Kesler, Dan Iordachescu, Aurel Alexandrescu, Alexandru Voinescu etc.

Since it was founded, the Choir collaborated with great conductors such as Roberto Benzi, Lawrence Foster, George Georgescu, Igor Markevitch, Georges Pretre, Constantin Silvestri, Sergiu Comissiona, Krzysztof Penderecky, Cristian Mandeal, Ghenrtadi Rozhdestvensky and toured Italy, Bulgaria, Spain Greece and France. The international press always welcomed the performances of this ensemble with great enthusiasm.

The Choir and the Symphony Orchestra of the George Enescu Philharmonic recently joined forces under Master Cristian Mandeal in order to create the recent recording of the Complete Works of George Enescu (symphonies and poems).

Starting in 1990, the Choir of the Philharmonic has participated in special events on the Romanian musical scene. In 1995, the ensemble worked with the great Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecky, in his dual capacity of composer and conductor. In 1998, as part of the International George Enescu Festival, the Choir of the Philharmonic and the French National Orchestra conducted by master Lawrence Foster joined forces for a concert performance of the opera Oedipus by George Enescu. Duing the same Festival, the ensemble joined the Catalonian Symphonic Orchestra for the premiere of the Standing Stone Oratory by Paul McCartney.

In recent years, the choir performed with the Balsoi Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Warsaw Festival Orchestra.

Iosif Ion Prunner

Iosif Ion Prunner has been the permanent conductor of the Choir of the Philharmonic since 1997. He is a valuable pianist and orchestra and opera conductor, who brought a new spirit to this artistic group, and won recognition for it at important Romanian music events.

A graduate of the National Music University IN Bucharest, Iosif Ion Prunner had an intense artistic activity as a conductor and a pianist in Romania and abroad.
He participated in famous festivals (Janacek, Enescu, Athens, Prague etc.) and often performed in important music centres in Japan, Hungary, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, Russia, Germany, Spain.

In Romania, he collaborated with the symphonic and chamber orchestras of the George Enescu Philharmonic, the National Radio Orchestra and the Chamber Radio Orchestra and conducted performances at the Romanian National Opera.

As a conductor and pianist, he worked with famous names of the music world, such as Lawrance Foster, Cristian Mandeal, Sergiu Comissiona, R. Penderecky, Valentin Gheorghiu, G. Roszdesventsky, Ion Voicu, Dan Iordachescu, Cristian Erod, Eugenia Moldoveanu, G. Crasnaru, Marta Kessler, Ionel Voineag, etc.

He is the founder and conductor of the Constantin Silvestri chamber orchestra, president of the foundation and director of the competition that both bear the same name. Presently, Iosif Ion Prunner conducts the choir of the George Enescu Philharmonic, and, at the same time, conducts symphonic concerts and operas. A few quotes are relevant for the way in which the press and fellow musicians appreciate his musical personality.

“It has been a pleasure meeting you and having the opportunity to collaborate. Congratulations and thank you for your remarkable contribution.”
Sergiu Comissiona

“Brilliant orchestra leader… with a profound musical intuition that enchanted the public.” (Jean Ranyer) Nantes Presse - Océan (France)

“He proved a specific sense of symphonic language.”
Grigore Constantinescu, România liberă

“The special concert was followed by enthusiastic applause.”
Gazzetta di Mantova

“Great admiration for the big talent”
Tobias Picker, composer (United States of America)

“In Parsifal, the orchestra of the George Enescu Philharmonic created an atmosphere of rare hieratic spirituality under I. I. Prunner’s wand. The accuracy and vastness of their sound must be especially praised.”

The Bucharest Philharmonic “George Enescu” Choir

Sopranos

Ruxandra Alexandrescu, Iulia Artamanov - Download CV (PDF), Viorica Boncu, Anca Butuc, Nicoleta Constantin, Iolanda Constantinescu, Lacramioara Cosmescu, Cornelia Crainic-Stanciu, Madalina Cretu-Cârcota, Raluca Enea, Silvia Florea, Anfisa Fugaru, Madalina Gheorghe, Alina Gramada, Mirela Ionescu, Eugenia Mihai, Georgiana Mototolea, Neluta Nicolae, Valentina Panas, Mariana Popovici, Stefana Puia, Elena Radut-Siliste, Ileana Raica, Madalina Stan - Download CV (PDF), Elena Stancu - Download CV (PDF), Paulina Stavrache, Ileana Tanase, Ecaterina Ungur, Mioara Voicu

Permanent Collaborators Cornelia Belcescu, Gabriela Damian, Cleopatra Maria, David Roxana, Velisarescu Aneliya Vidinova, Cristina Voicea

Altos

Alexandra Andrei, Marina Constantin, Olga Csorvasi - Download CV (PDF), Alina Ionescu, Anita Iosephovici, Maria Lungu, Haricleea Marica, Mariana Mirescu, Geanina Munteanu - Download CV (PDF), Simona Oarfa, Andreea Petre, Magdalena Postolache, Liliana Seica, Magdalena Serafim, Liliana Seropian, Daniela Svaricevschi

Permanent Collaborators Cristina Luchian, Mihaela Tufan, Eugenia Dobos

Tenors

Victor Bruma, Mircea Ciurez - Download CV (PDF), Olimpian Cojocaru, Daian Dinulescu, Vili Dula, Paul Ghica, George Hogas, Mircea Ionescu, Petre Macedoneanu, Cristian Manta, Cristian Mitrache, Constantin Neiconi, Mircea Popescu, Vasile Sfia, Catalin Stoica, Dragos Teodorescu

Permanent Collaborators Mircea Trandafir, Panait Nicusor, Vlad George, Ion Vasile Orheian

Bass
Cristian Babuta - Download CV (PDF), Ieronim Buga, Adrian Fugaru, Sorin Georgescu, Ionel Gramada, Nicolae Grof, Vasile Groza, Liviu Ionescu, Valentin Ivascu, Mircea Lucaciu, Alexandru Lupes, Emilian Mincu, Bujor Petru-Anica, Gabriel Stefan, Vasile Tudose

Permanent Collaborators Cristian Constantinescu, Sorin Dumitrascu, Mihai Mateescu, Valentin Pârvu