Șerban Lupu

Șerban Lupu (June 21, 1952 – August 11, 2023) was a violinist and university professor of Romanian-American descent, known for his research on the lesser-known works of George Enescu. He was regarded as one of the foremost contemporary interpreters of George Enescu's violin compositions.[1][2]

Education

Șerban Lupu was born in Brașov, into an old Romanian family from Transylvania. He was the son of Eugenia Grama and Mircea Aurel Lupu, an engineer who studied in Germany and learned violin from Constantin Bobescu.[3] His father encouraged him to study violin at age 6, later attending the "George Enescu" Music School in Bucharest.

He graduated from the National University of Music Bucharest, studying under Professor George Manoliu. He earned a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he studied with Yfrah Neaman. He also trained with renowned violinists including Yehudi Menuhin, Nathan Milstein, Henryk Szeryng, and Sandor Végh,[4] as well as Norbert Brainin from the Amadeus String Quartet.[2]

Career

In 1976, he settled in the United States, where he taught violin at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign for 25 years. In 2011, he became Professor Emeritus and continued his musical and pedagogical activities in Europe. He was the President of the "George Enescu" Society in the United States.[5][6] After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, he frequently returned to Romania.[7]

He was the artistic director of the "Musical Fortress of Brașov" Festival in Romania and the artistic director of the Gubbio Festival in Italy, as well as an associate concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera.[8]

He performed at the Kennedy Center, Gstaad Festival, Aldeburgh Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, St. Louis Music Hall, and Carnegie Hall.[9] He collaborated with conductors like Mendi Rodan, Cristian Mandeal, Kirk Trevor, and Horia Andreescu. Over time, he specialized in Romanian and Eastern European music, with a focus on promoting Enescu's works. Along with composer Cornel Țăranu, he completed and arranged George Enescu's "Romanian Caprice for Violin and Orchestra."[10]

Recognition

He won several international competitions, including the Vienna International, Romanian National String Quartet, Jacques Thibaud in Paris, Carl Flesch in London, Royal Society of Arts, and Park Lane Group Contest.[11]

He received numerous awards for his work promoting Enescu’s creations, including the publication of lesser-known works and completion of unfinished compositions based on Enescu’s original sketches. In 2000, Șerban Lupu was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Romanian Cultural Foundation for his efforts in promoting Romanian culture and music internationally.[12]

In May 2002, he was awarded the "Arnold Beckman" Prize by the Research Board of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign for his recordings of Bela Bartók’s complete works for violin and piano.[13]

In November 2002, he was awarded the title of Doctor honoris causa by the Academy of Music "Gheorghe Dima" in Cluj-Napoca, and in January 2004, President of Romania Ion Iliescu awarded him the title of Commander of the National Order of Faithful Service for his international musical and cultural contributions.[14]

References

  1. ^ Balabaș, Maria. “Enescu in manuscript.” Dilema Veche no. 516 from December 31, 2013
  2. ^ a b "Radio Romania Cultural" (in Romanian). radioromaniacultural.ro. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  3. ^ Pestrea Suciu, Steluța. “Interview with violinist Șerban Lupu.” Astra, no. 1-2/2018, pp. 61-70
  4. ^ "Artist Șerban Lupu has passed away" (in Romanian). Cotidianul RO. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  5. ^ "Romanian cultural presence in the United States". Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "MUSIC. "I would like people here, in Romania, to respect their work"" (in Romanian). Observator Cultural. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  7. ^ "About music and life with violinist Șerban Lupu". Radio Romania Muzical. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  8. ^ Dan, Sebastian (2012-10-02). "Violinist Șerban Lupu, "Honorary Citizen" of Brașov - News Brasov" (in Romanian). Stiri Brasov - NewsBV - News Brasov. Archived from the original on 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  9. ^ "Renowned violinist Șerban Lupu has passed away. He promoted George Enescu in the USA" (in Romanian). BZI.ro. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  10. ^ "Anniversary concert for Șerban Lupu on his 60th birthday". www.icr.ro. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  11. ^ Bădilă, Leonard. "Romanian music has lost another star! A great interpreter has passed. He shone on international stages" (in Romanian). www.capital.ro. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  12. ^ "Sherban Lupu, one of the greatest Romanian violinists of the last century, has passed away" (in Romanian). radioromaniacultural.ro. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  13. ^ "The distinguished violinist and professor Șerban Lupu has passed away". Radio Romania Muzical. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  14. ^ "Decree 21 16/01/2004". legislatie.just.ro. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
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