Georgescu George, *12 September 1887 Sulina, †1 September 1964 Bucharest, Romanian conductor and cellist. He began studying violin at the age of 5. He was educated at the Bucharest Conservatory under C. Dimitrescu (cello), and later, in 1910–14, at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin under R. Kahn (composition) and A. Kleffel (conducting). In 1914 he took further conducting instruction from A. Nikisch. In 1911–14 he played cello in the quartet of H. Marteau, after which he devoted himself entirely to conducting. Following a successful debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker (1918), he returned to Bucharest; in 1920 he inaugurated the concerts of the Bucharest Philharmonic, of which he was director in 1920–45 and 1954–64. In addition, in 1922–26, 1930–33 and in the 1939/40 season he was also conductor of the Bucharest Opera, and in 1950–53 professor of orchestral conducting at the Bucharest Conservatory. Under his direction, the State Philharmonic of Bucharest (later named after George Enescu) achieved a very high artistic level; he undertook numerous European tours with it. Georgescu was a highly regarded interpreter, especially of works by R. Strauss and Enescu. He received the State Prize twice (1949, 1957) and held the title of People’s Artist of the Romanian People’s Republic (1954). He made numerous recordings.
Literature: L. Voiculescu George Georgescu. Cincizeci de ani de activitate artistică, Bucharest 1957; T. G. Georgescu George Georgescu, Bucharest 1971.
