Conductor: Zubin Mehta

Performer: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Zubin Mehta

Zubin Mehta, one of the world's greatest conductors, is a Parsee, whose Zoroastrian ancestors took refuge in India after the Muslim conquest of Persia more than a millennium ago.

He has been the conductor of the Israel Philharmonic since 1991. Before that, he led the New York Philharmonic (1978-91), the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1962-78) and the Montreal Symphony (1961-67).

His musical career has been a long series of "firsts." He was the youngest man to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, the youngest to become music director of a major American orchestra, the first and, so far, the only music director of the Israel Philharmonic. His debut in London, on the night of Sir Thomas Beecham's death, was the first time any person from the former dominion of India had appeared with a major British orchestra.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by Bronislaw Huberman in 1936. Huberman was a Zionist and founded the orchestra in order to save Jewish musicians in Europe from the Holocaust, which he foresaw. The inaugural concert, on December 26th 1936, was conducted by the legendary Arturo Toscanini to great acclaim, with the "Palestine Orchestra", as it was then known, being characterised as "an orchestra of soloists". With Israel′s independence in 1948 it was renamed "The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra". It is now considered "one of the ten best orchestras in the world today".

Remarks: Tickets for Zubin Mehta and Israel Philharmonic Concert will be available soon!