Paul Constantinescu

Paul Constantinescu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈpa.ul konstantiˈnesku]; 30 June 1909, Ploieşti – 20 December 1963) was a Romanian composer. Two of his main influences are Romanian folk music and Byzantine chant, both of which he used in his teaching.

Major works

• Piano concerto
• Violin concerto
• Symphony No.1
• The Nativity (Byzantine Christmas Oratorio)
• A stormy night (O noapte furtunoasa)
• Pana Lesnea Rusalim

Other substantial works

• Concerto for string orchestra (performed by Horia Andreescu and the Romanian National Radio Orchestra in 2005)
• Free variations on a Byzantine theme for cello and orchestra (performed by Carol Litvin, conductor, Romanian National Radio Orchestra, with cellist Cǎtǎlin Ilea in 1961)

Recordings

• Violin concerto (1955) on label: Olympia OCD417 (released 1991), with works by Nichifor (Symph. 4) and Toduţǎ (Tablatura for Lute)

Played by the Romanian State Philharmonic Orchestra/conductor: Ion Baciu (Both recordings are re-issues of LPs on the Electrecord label)

• Piano concerto (1952) and the Symphony No. 1 (1955 - a revised version of the 1944 symphony) on Olympia OCD 411 (released in 1991) — played by the Cluj "Transilvania" Philarmonic Orchestra with conductor Emil Simon and pianist Valentin Gheorghiu (again a re-issue of an Electrecord recording)
• Suite for piano (No. 1 Joc, No. 2 Cantec, No. 3 Joc dobrogean) (1952) played by pianists Dana Ciocârlie [on label Empreinte ED13122 (2000), with piano works by Enescu and Bartók] and Mihaela Ursuleasa (on label Berlin Classics in 2011)
• The Nativity (Byzantine Christmas Oratorio) (1947) performed by the Bucharest "George Enescu" Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra on label: Olympia OCD 402 and Electrocord Romania EDC 391
• Passion and Resurrection (Byzantine Easter Oratorio) (1946) performed by the Bucharest "Corul Academic Radio" and "Orchestra Națională Radio" on Editura Casa Radio ECR 293 (2011)

Bibliography Hârlav-Maistorovici, Sanda (2015): „Creația componistică a lui Paul Constaninescu. Catalog cronologic”, București: Editura Muzicală