Paul Constantinescu

Short bio Paul Constantinescu

Birthday: 1909 in Ploiesti

Died: 1963 in Bucharest, Romania

Genre: Classical

Period: Modern

Full biography Paul Constantinescu

Paul Constantinescu (1909-1963) was a Romanian composer, pianist, and conductor. He is best known for his vocal and religious music and is considered one of the most significant composers of his generation in Romania. Constantinescu studied composition under Mihail Jora and conducting under George Enescu at the Bucharest Conservatory. He later became a professor of composition at the same institution.

Constantinescu's works span a variety of genres, including choral music, symphonies, ballets, operettas, film music, and chamber music. Notable works include his Toccata for Flute and Orchestra, the Liturghia Domnească (Divine Liturgy), and his opera O noapte furtunoasă (A Stormy Night), which is based on a play by Ion Luca Caragiale.

Aside from music, Constantinescu was also known for his activity in the Romanian Orthodox Church, where he served as a cantor and wrote several religious compositions. He also composed the music for the Romanian national anthem for the coronation of King Mihai I in 1940.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Constantinescu's work, with various concerts and recordings featuring his compositions. The Corul Madrigal released an album titled Centenar Paul Constantinescu in 2009 to celebrate the centenary of his birth, and his music continues to be performed by orchestras and choirs around the world.

Compositions featuring Paul Constantinescu

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Cantec (Song)	4:32 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1952
2	Joc (Dance)	2:52 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1952
3	Joc dobrogean	4:06 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1952
4	Sonatina for violin & piano	10:01 min	Chamber Music	1933
5	Klavierstücke (3), for piano		Keyboard	-
6	Toccata, for piano	4:48 min	Keyboard	-
7	The Nativity, Byzantine Christmas Oratorio		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
8	Symphony No. 1		Symphony	-
9	Suite for piano	10:49 min	Keyboard	-
10	Song (theme & variations), for piano	4:50 min	Keyboard	-
11	Romanian Symphonic Dances (3)		Orchestral	-
12	Rhapsody No 2	11:00 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
13	Patru Madrigale, for chorus & piano	19:24 min	Choral	-
14	Ballad of the Outlaw for Cello and Orchestra	16:15 min	Orchestral	-
15	Cântec, variations on a Romanian folk song for piano	6:08 min	Keyboard	-
16	Concerto for violin		Concerto	-
17	Concerto for Strings	18:55 min	Chamber Music	-
18	Concerto for piano		Concerto	-
19	Concerto for harp	21:19 min	Concerto	-
20	Byzantine Variations for cello and orchestra	11:45 min	Orchestral	-

Albums featuring Paul Constantinescu

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Elena Ganțolea, Vivaldi, Corelli, Grandjany, Tournier, Constantinescu, Terényi – De la Vivaldi la Jazz / From Vivaldi To Jazz(CD, Compilation, Reissue)	2017	Editura Casa Radio
2	Mihaela Ursuleasa - Mozart, Beethoven, Constantinescu – Interpretări Din Arhiva Radio România(CD, )	2016	Editura Casa Radio
3	Oratoriul Bizantin De Crăciun Nașterea Domnului(CD, )	2011	Editura Casa Radio
4	Paul Constantinescu, Horia Andreescu – Oratoriul bizantin de Paşti Patimile şi Învierea Domnului (ediţia a II-a)(2×CD, Album, Stereo)	2009	Editura Casa Radio
5	Mihaela Ursuleasa – Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Ginastera, Constantinescu – Piano & Forte(CD, Album)	2009	Berlin Classics
6	George Enescu, Dana Ciocarlie, Béla Bartók, Paul Constantinescu – Romania(CD, Album)	1999	L'Empreinte Digitale
7	Concertos(CD, Compilation)	1991	Olympia (2)
8	Symphony No.1 / Piano Concerto(CD, Album, Compilation, Reissue)	1990	Olympia (2)
9	Marțian Negrea / Paul Constantinescu / Emanuel Elenescu / Mircea Basarab – Rhapsodies From Romania(CD, Compilation, Stereo)	1990	Electrecord
10	O Noapte Furtunoasă = A Stormy Night(LP)	1989	Electrecord
11	Paul Constantinescu / Valentin Gheorghiu - Cluj-Napoca Philharmonic Orchestra / Emil Simon – Concertos For Piano And Orchestra(LP)	1989	Electrecord
12	Mozart / Paul Constantinescu - Nederland Chamber Orchestra , Conducted By Horia Andreescu – Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, K. 550 / Concerto For Strings(LP)	1987	Electrecord
13	Paul Constantinescu - The Orchestra of the „Moldova“ Philharmonic Conductor Ion Baciu – Symphony N.1 (Simfonia Nr. 1)(LP)	1985	Electrecord
14	Ballad For Cello And Orchestra / Free Variations On A Byzantine Theme For Cello And Orchestra	1984	Electrecord
15	Paul Constantinescu / Carmen Petra-Basacopol – Harpă: Elena Ganțolea, Orchestra Simfonică A Radioteleviziunii Dirijor: Iosif Conta – Concert Pentru Harpă Și Orchestră / Concertino Pentru Harpă Și Orchestră(LP)	1983	Electrecord
16	P. Constantinescu / S. Drăgoi - Vladimir Verbitsky – Concerto For String Orchestra / Folk Festivity(LP)	1982	Мелодия
17	Ion Dumitrescu / Paul Constantinescu – Concerte Pentru Orchestră De Coarde(LP)	1981	Electrecord
18	O.Gerster / W.Lutoslawski / P.Constantinescu - Symphony Orchestra Of The Gorki Philharmonic , Conductor I.Gusman – Dresden Suite / Musique Funebre / Braul(LP)	1980	Мелодия
19	Paul Constantinescu / Theodor Rogalski / Achim Stoia / Constantin Bobescu – Orchestra simfonică a Filarmonicii „Oltenia“ din Craiova, Teodor Costin – Dansuri Simfonice Românești	1978	Electrecord
20	Paul Constantinescu - Cătălin Ilea – Sonata Bizantină Pentru Violoncel Solo / Două Studii În Stil Bizantin Pentru Vioară, Violă Și Violoncel / Variațiuni Libere Asupra Unei Melodii Bizantine Pentru Violoncel Și Orchestră(LP)	1976	Electrecord
21	Simfonia Ploieșteană / Sinfonietta(LP, Mono)	1975	Electrecord
22	Paul Constantinescu / Ion Dumitrescu – Simfonia În Re / Concert Pentru Orchestră De Coarde(LP, Mono)	1973	Electrecord
23	Paul Constantinescu - Corul Madrigal Dirijor Marin Constantin – Coruri	1972	Electrecord
24	Paul Constantinescu - Corul Filarmonicii „George Enescu” și Orchestra simfonică a Filarmonicii „George Enescu” , Dirijor : Mircea Basarab – Oratoriul Bizantin De Crăciun = Oratorio Byzantin De Noël = Byzantine Christmas Oratorio	1972	Electrecord
25	Paul Constantinescu / Constantin Silvestri – Concert Pentru Vioară Și Orchestră / Trei Piese Pentru Orchestra De Coarde · Preludiu Și Fugă	1971	Electrecord
26	O Noapte Furtunoasă(LP, Mono)	1967	Electrecord
27	Paul Constantinescu / Dargomîjski - Nicolae Secăreanu, Nicolae Rădulescu – Gornistul / Bătrînul Caporal(7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mono)	1967	Electrecord
28	Triplu Concert Pentru Vioară, Violoncel, Pian Și Orchestră / Concert Pentru Pian Și Orchestră	1965	Electrecord
29	Din Cătănie / Toccata(7", 45 RPM)	1965	Electrecord
30	Paul Constantinescu / Marțian Negrea – Două Dansuri Simfonice / Izbuc(7", 45 RPM)	1964	Electrecord
31	Paul Constantinescu / Anatol Vieru – Șapte Cîntece Din „Ulița Noastră” / Concert Pentru Orchestră, Op. 12	1960	Electrecord
32	Trei Jocuri Simfonice (Ciobănașul - Olteneasca - Brîul) / Concert Pentru Orchestră De Coarde	1959	Electrecord
33	Paul Constantinescu - Orchestra Națională a Radiodifuziunii Franceze Dirijor : Constantin Silvestri Pian : Valentin Gheorghiu – Concert Pentru Pian Și Orchestră	1959	Electrecord
34	Paul Constantinescu / Leon Klepper – Three Rumanian Symphonic Dances / Four Rumanian Symphonic Dances(LP, 10", Mono)	1958	Electrecord
35	De Falla / Enescu / Constantinescu – Czarodziejska Miłość / Rapsodia Rumuńska Nr 2 D-dur Op. 11 / 3 Tańce Symfoniczne(LP, Compilation, Mono)	-	Polskie Nagrania Muza

Videos featuring Paul Constantinescu

Orchestra Naţională Radio -- Dirijor: Horia ANDREESCU

Corul

Paul Constantinescu - ORATORIUL BIZANTIN DE PAŞTI Patimile şi Învierea Domnului

„Paul Constantinescu, ORATORIUL BIZANTIN DE PAŞTI Patimile şi Învierea Domnului", album apărut la Editura Casa Radio, 2009, în colecția „Profil interpretativ" (ECR 225) (reeditat 2010, ECR 293).

Orchestra Naţională Radio -- Dirijor: Horia ANDREESCU

Corul