Classical music highlights: Enescu Competition winner and Violoncellissimo tour

Swiss cellist Samuel Niederhauser won first prize in the cello section of the 2026 George Enescu International Competition. Performing at the Romanian Athenaeum with a 1690 Carlo Giuseppe Testore cello, Niederhauser also received the Audience Prize and the award for best performance of the compulsory work, ‘Waves of Gravel’ by Malika Kishino. Other finalists included Joshua Kováč from the United States, who took second prize, and Sanghyeok Park from South Korea.

Separately, the eighth edition of the ‘Violoncellissimo’ national classical tour is currently underway across various Romanian cities. Initiated by cellist and George Enescu Philharmonic director Marin Cazacu, the tour features a flexible ensemble ranging from 14 to 100 musicians. The tour, which began in Sinaia, is scheduled to conclude in Rome on November 23.