The "George Enescu" Philharmonic is the representative musical institution of Romania. Founded in April 1868, the "Romanian Philharmonic Society", under the direction of Eduard Wachmann, aimed to organize a permanent symphony orchestra, with a view to propagating musical culture and popularizing classical music masterpieces. The first concert took place on December 15 of the same year, under the baton of its initiator.

​

After the inauguration of the Roman Athenaeum palace, on March 5, 1889, concerts began to take place in this hall, as it still happens today, the Roman Athenaeum becoming the emblem of Romanian culture and the seat of the Philharmonic. Wachmann, who led the first permanent symphony orchestra until 1907, was succeeded by Dimitrie Dinicu (1868-1936), and from 1920, George Georgescu (1887-1964), an outstanding conductor, student of Arthur Nikisch. During the directorships of George Georgescu (1920-1944; 1954-1964), the repertoire was modernized and the Philharmonic entered the international music circuit, by participating in the first tours abroad and inviting great personalities of the interwar musical world, including Jacques Thibaud, Pablo Casals, Igor Stravinsky, Enrico Mainardi, Alfred Cortot, Maurice Ravel, Richard Strauss, Yehudi Menuhin, Herbert von Karajan and many others of universal caliber. George Georgescu is also credited with reference discography recordings, for example complete Beethoven symphonies. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Abundant details about the first hundred years of activity appear in the volume "Filarmonica George Enescu from Bucharest, 1868-1968", signed by musicologist Viorel Cosma.

​

After the war, the institution diversified its activity, under the mandates of Constantin Silvestri and George Georgescu: the Academic Choir was founded, a valuable body of concert soloists (instrumentalists and singers), various chamber ensembles (from the orchestra to the piano trio) was formed. . George Georgescu's name is also associated with the memorable concerts held by the Philharmonic Orchestra, at the first editions of the "George Enescu" International Festival. After the death of George Enescu, in 1955, the Philharmonic bears his name. The management of this musical institution was succeeded by: Mircea Basarab, Dumitru Capoianu, Ion Voicu, Mihai Brediceanu.

​

After the fall of the communist regime, the management of the institution was first entrusted to the great pianist Dan Grigore (1990). The "George Enescu" Philharmonic has regained its former glory under the leadership of general director Cristian Mandeal and artistic director Nicolae Licaret. During the tenure of principal conductor Cristian Mandeal (1991-2009), the Philharmonic Orchestra recorded the complete symphonic works by George Enescu and Johannes Brahms on disc. In addition to symphonic concerts and current chambers (about 300 annually), the Philharmonic has recorded dozens of LP and CD discs and undertaken sound tours in Europe, Asia and the Far East, thus gaining a well-deserved international reputation.