Silent Film, Romanian Song, and the Enescu Festival Stage
Join us as we prepare for our Enescu Festival debut at Suțu Palace in Bucharest. In this conversation we share the story of George Enescu, the meaning of Romania’s greatest festival, and a preview of Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea’s Chaplin-inspired Sonatina Buffa.
On September 7, the Mada & Hugh Piano Duo will perform at the historic Suțu Palace in Bucharest as part of the George Enescu International Festival. For the duo, it is both an honor and a homecoming, presenting an all-Romanian program at one of Europe’s most prestigious celebrations of classical music.
What is the Enescu Festival?
Founded in 1958, three years after the death of Romania’s greatest composer George Enescu, the festival has grown into one of the world’s leading cultural events. Each edition brings together internationally acclaimed orchestras, soloists, and ensembles to perform in Bucharest and across Romania. The festival alternates with the Enescu Competition, creating a cycle that supports both established artists and emerging talent. Venues include the Romanian Athenaeum, Palace Hall, and historic sites such as the Suțu Palace, where the Mada & Hugh Piano Duo will appear.
George Enescu: A Complete Artist
George Enescu
George Enescu (1881–1955) was a rare multi-faceted musician: composer, violinist, conductor, and pianist. Trained in Vienna and Paris, he absorbed the classical traditions of Western Europe while remaining deeply rooted in the folk music of his native Romania. His Romanian Rhapsodies, particularly the first, became instant international favorites, although his vast output also includes symphonies, chamber music, and his monumental opera Oedipe. Enescu’s artistry combined technical mastery with an unmistakable national voice, shaping the identity of Romanian music on the world stage.
A Program of Romanian Masterpieces
For their festival debut, the duo will perform an all-Romanian program that highlights both tradition and innovation. The centerpiece is an arrangement of Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 2 for piano four hands, alongside solo works by Enescu that showcase his lyrical and folkloric style. Madalina Danila contributes her own arrangement of Dinu Lipatti’s Nocturne, originally for solo piano, transformed into a duet that brings new depth and color to this beloved work.
A Contemporary Voice: Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea
Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea
The program also looks forward, featuring Sonatina Buffa by living Romanian composer and pianist Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea, a professor of composition at the Bucharest Conservatory. Teodorescu-Ciocănea was a mentor to Madalina during her graduate studies, and their artistic connection has remained strong. Including her music in this recital reflects the duo’s commitment to honoring both Romania’s musical heritage and its present creative voices.
“Sonatina Buffa”: An Homage to Charlie Chaplin
Sonatina Buffa is a witty and moving tribute to the silent film legend Charlie Chaplin. Written for piano four hands, the piece captures the spirit of Chaplin’s films, comic yet poignant, playful yet bittersweet. Its themes shift suddenly, like cinematic cuts, recalling the way music once shaped the emotional arc of silent film. Improvisatory gestures, rhythmic quirks, and theatrical effects such as clusters on the keyboard evoke Chaplin’s walk, moments of mischief, and even the sound of applause at the end.
For the Mada & Hugh Piano Duo, the work is more than a performance piece. It is an invitation for the audience to enter a world where music and theater intersect, where a piano recital can bring laughter and reflection, much like Chaplin’s films continue to do for audiences around the world.