Unifying Words: From Beethoven to Enescu

The Embassy of Romania to the U.S. and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York cordially invite you to “Unifying Words: From Beethoven to Enescu” a special concert with Teodora Brody performed in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 pm at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ Terrace Theater.

Shooting to stardom as Teodora Enache and known today as Teodora Brody, the marvelous voice of Romanian jazz who has captivated audiences with her fascinating presence and brilliant talent, brings to the United States her mesmerizing “Unifying Words: from Beethoven to Enescu”, an original, genre-defying mélange of classical and jazz. She will be accompanied by a quartet of seasoned international musicians: Călin Grigoriu – guitar, Andrei Kivu – cello and Bertram Lehmann – Brazilian percussion, after more than a decade away from her fans on this side of the Atlantic, Teodora again tours America with concerts in New York, Washington, DC, and Chicago.

Acclaimed for her extraordinary voice and creative vision, Teodora Brody is an award-winning vocalist whose artistry encompasses jazz, classical, world music, and beyond. Over the last 25 years, Teodora has forged a singular path through the international jazz scene, collaborating with legendary artists including Stanley Jordan and the late Johnny Răducanu, appearing at prestigious venues from Montreux, Lugano, and Marciac Festivals to New York City’s Iridium Club, and pioneering the fusion of jazz with her native Romania’s improvisatory folk singing tradition Doina. In recent years, Teodora’s intrepid musical imagination has taken her into new territory, exploring classical music from an entirely fresh perspective, with original vocal renditions of masterpieces by the likes of Beethoven, Bach, Enescu, and Bartók. Following acclaimed performances at George Enescu Festival in 2019 and 2021, Teodora returned to the Romanian Athenaeum in 2023, joining forces with the Manchester Camerata. Teodora’s latest album Rhapsody, recorded with the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra, presents a thrilling journey into the classical repertoire.

In 2024 Teodora tours to the U.S. and Europe, with exciting inter-disciplinary collaborations in a variety of formats, from symphony orchestra to ensemble to her own quartet of vocals, guitar, cello and Brazilian percussion. The U.S. tour is organized and with the support of generous sponsors including: Dedeman, CEC Bank, Banca Transilvania, BCR, Transgaz, LIDL, eMAG, Exim Banca Românească, Raiffeisen Bank, Kaufland, Fan Courier and in Chicago with the support of the Romanian United Foundation and the Romanian Community Center.

The Program will include:

• Sonata Pathétique, No. 8, Op. 27, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Movement by Ludwig van Beethoven – Premiere vocal version
• Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, Op. 11 by George Enescu – Premiere vocal version
• Canon by Johann Pachelbel – Premiere vocal version
• Doina – The Romanian Gospel by Teodora Brody
• The 6 Romanian Dances by Béla Bartók – Premiere vocal version
• Moonlight Sonata no.14,Op.27,No.2-Premiere vocal version
• Romanian Rhapsody No. 2, Op 11 by George Enescu – Premiere vocal version

This is a Free event. Tickets are required and are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by phone (202) 467-4600 and on the kennedy-center.org website. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, please call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.

This event is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.