Best known as a composer in America and a violinist in Europe, Enesco's work as a composer is almost unknown outside of his native Romania. Born in 1881, he entered the Vienna Conservatoire at the age of seven. He was already an accomplished violinist and was determined to be a composer. Under the influence of his heroes Brahms, Wagner and Massenet, Enesco wrote a total of eleven symphonic works: five mature symphonies, four Study Symphonies, a Concert Symphony for cello and orchestra and a Chamber Symphony. Mainly living in Paris, Enesco also traveled widely and spent lengthy periods of time in his homeland Romania, where he died in 1955.