George Enescu was one of the most brilliant musical figures of the 20th Century, and by far the most important artist to emerge from Romania. He was an extraordinary composer, inspiring conductor, and a highly esteemed violinist. The cellist Pablo Casals characterised Enescu as "the greatest musical phenomenon since Mozart“ and Yehudi Menuhin remained a lifelong devotee, saying: “If you ask me who had the most influence and range as a musician, then I say Enescu!”

Of all of Enescu's works for violin and piano, the 3rd Sonata Op.25 "dans le caractère roumain populaire" ("in Romanian folk character"), composed in 1926, is the most famous and stands roughly in the centre of his work for these instruments. In addition to the two other sonatas, a dramatic sonata 'torso' in A Minor, the Impressions d' enfance and some smaller works have survived.

The Ballad, composed in Paris in 1895 by the precocious fourteen year old Enescu, begins his work for violin and piano, ending with the nostalgic Andante malinconico of 1951.

Two Romanian musicians, violinist Remus Azoitei and pianist Eduard Stan bring this multifaceted music to life with their gorgeous playing, adding a personal touch with their own intuitive understanding of Romanian culture, just as the master composed them.