George Enescu was born on August 19, 1881 (143 years ago) in the village of Liveni (now the village of George Enescu, Romania) in a peasant family. The childhood impressions related to his native nature, the lifestyle of the Romanian peasant, his work, ancient rituals, songs, and dances laid the foundation for the national sentiment that later became so characteristic of Enescu as an artist. He began playing the violin at an early age, receiving his first lessons at the age of 4, with the well-known lăutar N. Chioru as his teacher. Initially, George picked out melodies by ear, and later a passing musician taught him musical notation. He then attended the Vienna Conservatory and opera performances, which Enescu loved to visit. Occasionally, the young musician would try his hand at conducting the student conservatory orchestra. In 1892, Enescu graduated from the conservatory with a gold medal. His family sent him to Paris for further development. From 1893 to 1899, Enescu studied at the Paris Conservatory, and after graduation, he became one of the best violinists in Paris. Enescu entered the new century as a recognized musician. He performed in concerts with Saint-Saëns and Casals and was elected a member of the French Society of Musicians. The opera "Oedipe" (libretto by E. Fleg based on Sophocles; Paris Opera, 1936) is George Enescu's most grandiose work, on which he worked for about 20 years. He was repeatedly invited to serve on the jury of the Paris Conservatory, and most importantly, he maintained an intense concert activity. From 1907 to 1912, Enescu undertook extensive concert tours across European countries. In 1909, he visited Russia for the first time, performing in St. Petersburg and Moscow. During World War I, he continued to give concerts in France and the USA, spending long periods in Romania, playing on the frontlines and in hospitals. The proceeds from his concert performances were donated to the Red Cross. The war and subsequent inflation ruined Enescu. He conducted endless concert tours around the world, captivating audiences in both the Old and New Worlds with his spirituality, impeccable technique, profound thought, and high musical culture. The great musicians of his time admired Enescu and were delighted to perform with him. He was an opponent of fascism and actively participated in the cultural revival of Romania. By 1947, the maestro was well into his sixties, but he continued his intensive concert activities. In the winter of 1955, while in Paris, he fell seriously ill and spent the last months of his life bedridden. George Enescu died in Paris on May 4, 1955. In 1958, the George Enescu Festival was established (held in Bucharest, Sibiu, Iași, every two years since 2001).