Gabriel Bebeșelea is a dynamic and acclaimed conductor who is celebrated for his artistry and commitment to musical exploration. He serves as Principal Conductor of the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra in Bucharest and as Artistic Director of Musica Ricercata, a period instrument ensemble and festival dedicated to historically informed performances. Gabriel is also Conductor in Residence of the Filarmonica Banatul Timisoara since 2023 and has developed very interesting projects including Schönberg’s Gurrelieder and concert performances of full operas such as Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Enescu´s Œdipe. 

 

Renowned for his versatility, Bebeșelea enjoys a flourishing international career, collaborating with esteemed ensembles such as the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra, and Prague Philharmonia, among others.

 

The 2025/26 season highlights include Bebeșelea’s return to the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, as well as performances with the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast and at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He leads the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in a featured appearance at the prestigious George Enescu Festival, and appears at the Kölner Philharmonie, further strengthening his presence on Europe’s leading concert stages.

 

In the 2024/25 season, Bebeșelea made his debut with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted a tour with the Tonkünstler Orchestra, and led the Romanian Chamber Orchestra in performances at Choriner Musiksommer and Concertgebouw Amsterdam. A significant highlight was conducting the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra for Romania Day celebrations at the Osaka World Expo, showcasing Romanian musical heritage on a global platform.A distinguished opera conductor, Bebeșelea made history in 2011 as the youngest-ever Principal Conductor of Romanian National Opera of Iași. In 2015, he took on the same role at National Romanian Opera House of Cluj-Napoca. From 2016 to 2023, he was the Principal Conductor of Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra of Cluj-Napoca.
 

Bebeșelea is also a dedicated scholar and advocate for uncovering neglected musical gems. In 2017, he founded Musica Ricercata to bring these works to light, showcasing music from Baroque to modern era. His passion for rediscovery is evident in his collaboration with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, where he recorded George Enescu’s rediscovered oratorio Strigoii (The Ghosts) and the Pastorale - Fantaisie pour petite orchestre, a work he curated himself.
 

Born in 1987, Bebeșelea’s formative years included studying with luminaries such as Bernard Haitink at the Lucerne Festival and Kurt Masur at the Aurora Classical Festival. In 2011, he earned a prestigious internship with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, where he assisted in rehearsals led by some of the world’s foremost conductors.
 

His talent has been recognized with numerous accolades, including winning the “Lovro von Matačić” Conducting Competition (2015) and the “Jeunesses Musicales” Conducting Competition (2011). Bebeșelea completed postgraduate studies under Prof. Mark Stringer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and earned his PhD with “summa cum laude” honours from the National University of Music Bucharest in 2018.