Born at Rupea, Romania, he studied the piano, composition and conducting at the Music High School in Brasov and graduated from the National Music University of Bucharest. He attended the master classes directed by Karajan i n Berlin and Celibidache in Munich. He was appointed resident con - ductor at the Philharmonic in Târgu Mure sand Cluj, and then per - manent conductor at the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra in 1987. Until 1990, his international career developed mainly in the Eastern European countries. From 1990, he started to conduct orchestras throughout the world. He has conducted in 32 coun - tries (25 capitals). In 1991 he was appointed General Manager of the "George Enescu"Philharmonic with which he undertook tours in over 20 countries. At present he is the Artistic Director with the Euskadi Orchestra in Spain. From 1999 to 2002 he was also the Artistic Director of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Israel, and a resident conductor of the "Haydn"Orchestra in Bolzano e Trento - Italy (until 2003). He has been repeatedly invited to the Halle Orchestra - Manchester, England, where he has been a permanent guest conductor. He was Artistic Director of the International " George Enescu " Festival and Competition - 2001 and 2003. He is a member in international conducting competitions juries and has also directed conducting master classes. His wide repertoire includes world premieres (over 50)of international and Romanian works. He has made many recordings with opera, symphonic works and film music. He has widely recorded for Electrecord (the Bruckner symphonies), Arte Nova (complete works by Enescu, symphonies and vocal works by Brahms)and Claves (works by Arambarri, Sorozabal and Aita Donostia). As a constant promoter of Enescu's music, he has conducted Oedipe at the National Opera in Bucharest (co - production between Staatsoper Vienna and Deutsche Oper Berlin, at the Enescu Festival in 2001), at the Edinburgh Festival - the UK in 2002 (the British premiere - concert version ), and in 2004 at Deutsche Oper Berlin. His activity has been awarded prizes and medals.

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