The musician Robert Treviño, 41, has been appointed Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, beginning with the 2026–2027 Season. The American conductor will assume his position in October 2026, for an initial term of four years.

The offer followed his electrifying debut with the Orchestra in November 2025, when he conducted Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in a performance described by music critics as “a musical achievement of the great days,” praised for its scale, memorable force, and passionate intensity.

Marin Cazacu, General Director of the George Enescu Philharmonic, stated:
“After the exceptional experience not long ago, when the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, together with conductor Robert Treviño, delivered one of the most sensitive and convincing interpretations of Mahler’s Third Symphony, it is a joy to invite him to become part of the George Enescu Philharmonic family as Principal Conductor. We very much wish for this period to be one of evolution—both for us and for the very idea of collaboration with a conductor of Robert Treviño’s stature and prestige. His appointment as Principal Conductor is a natural step, as it fulfills the development strategy we began in 2022, aimed at growth and communication at a higher national and international level.”

“It is a joy and a great privilege for me to join the George Enescu Philharmonic as its future Principal Conductor, starting with the 2026–2027 Season. From the very first moment the Orchestra and I began making music together, it became extremely clear that we speak the same musical language and pursue a shared vision in terms of aesthetics and artistic expression. Being offered the position of Principal Conductor immediately after my debut this Season is proof of the chemistry we share and of our common commitment to the musical act,” said Robert Treviño, who currently conducts the London Symphony Orchestra.

Paying tribute to the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Treviño added:
 “The George Enescu Philharmonic has a history of over 150 years, during which it has continuously created music in this extraordinary and beautiful concert hall. What is truly remarkable is that throughout this time it has managed to preserve its deeply romantic, warm, and rich sound—so distinctive to its identity. It is a privilege and a great honor to become part of this legacy and history, and to contribute to the future development of the George Enescu Philharmonic, not only for its home audience in Bucharest, but also on the international stage.”

The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Romania’s most important orchestra and one of Eastern Europe’s leading ensembles, was founded in 1868. Among the great conductors who have shaped its history are George Enescu himself, George Georgescu, Constantin Silvestri, Sergiu Celibidache, and Cristian Mandeal.

Based at the Romanian Athenaeum since 1889, the George Enescu Philharmonic aims to offer an ideal space in which, through music, we may fulfill our identity as citizens of humanity. For over 150 years—through times of peace and war—concerts at the Romanian Athenaeum have taken place without interruption. Here, the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra creates music and grace.

Robert Treviño, who is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, regularly conducts many of the world’s leading orchestras. This Season, he appears on the podium of the London Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Filarmonica della Scala, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México, Osaka Philharmonic, and others.

Treviño will reunite with the George Enescu Philharmonic in August, conducting the Orchestra at the Ravello Festival in Italy. Plans for the Orchestra’s collaboration with Robert Treviño include the development and refinement of the ensemble’s identity, enrichment of the repertoire, extensive international tours, and several recordings with Ondine Records, with whom Treviño has a long-standing collaboration. These recordings have earned numerous awards and distinctions, including Record of the Year from Presto Music and a Gramophone Award nomination.

Robert Treviño is the future Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI.

Recently praised in a profile in The New York Times for his “exceptional conducting… sincere, superb,” Robert Treviño is in high demand with many of the world’s foremost orchestras. He regularly appears with leading ensembles ranging from the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France to the London Symphony Orchestra, from the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig to the Baltimore Symphony, from the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich to the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

The 2025–2026 Season brings Treviño to the podium of the London Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Wiener Symphoniker, Bamberger Symphoniker, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Osaka Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México.

He has led numerous international tours, including in Germany and Italy with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI; in Austria, Germany, France, and Turkey with the Basque National Orchestra; in South America with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra; in Germany and Italy with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra; in Italy with the SWR Symphonieorchester; in Turkey with the Wiener Symphoniker; in Italy and Azerbaijan with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra; and in Romania with the MDR Symphony Orchestra.

For eight years, he served as Music Director of the Basque National Orchestra, a transformative period in the ensemble’s history, marked by award-winning recordings, a strong digital presence, and uninterrupted activity during the Covid period. Under his leadership, the orchestra toured renowned venues such as the Grosses Festspielhaus Salzburg, Herkulessaal Munich, and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Paris. Alex Ross of The New Yorker noted the orchestra’s rising international profile under Treviño, while Gramophone wrote: “Trevino has revitalized the 40-year-old ensemble.”

He also served as Chief Conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, where highlights included highly successful festivals dedicated to Beethoven and Stravinsky, continued activity during Covid, and innovative outreach projects.

His recording contract with Ondine has resulted in Recording of the Year from Presto Music for Americascapes, also shortlisted for a Gramophone Award; a critically acclaimed complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies; two highly praised Ravel albums; a Rautavaara album; Respighi’s Roman Trilogy; and Americascapes 2 – American Opus. Additionally, a complete cycle of Bruch symphonies with the Bamberger Symphoniker, released by CPO, is now regarded as the modern reference recording. In total, Robert Treviño’s recordings have received over 16 major distinctions from leading international publications.

Treviño came to international attention at the Bolshoi Theatre in December 2013, where, on very short notice, he conducted a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo. Russian press wrote: “There has not been an American success of this magnitude in Moscow since Van Cliburn.” As a result, he was nominated for a Golden Mask Award for Best Conductor in a New Production and appeared annually at the Bolshoi for five seasons.

Robert Treviño has commissioned works, premiered compositions, and collaborated closely with many of today’s leading composers, including John Adams, Philip Glass, Sofia Gubaidulina, George Walker, Jennifer Higdon, André Previn, Augusta Read Thomas, Shulamit Ran, Ramon Lazkano, and John Zorn.