Page 48 - Seniors Today - April Issue
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Zubin Mehta conducting the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra in Florence, Italy
on its cover in January 1968, when he was Orchestra. He was often accused of being a
just 31. He was one of the youngest to lead the ‘jetset conductor’, and his response was that
Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, he loved travelling because his phone never
and the first to simultaneously conduct rang on the plane and he could read and
two major North American orchestras memorise his scores in peace.
— Montreal Symphony and Los Angeles Besides his regular classical shows in
Philharmonic. Mumbai, Delhi and other Indian metros,
His most memorable association, of course, one of Mehta’s most talked about concerts
has been with the Israel Philharmonic was with the Bavarian State Orchestra in
Orchestra, which accompanied him to the Srinagar, Kashmir, in 2013. Despite separatist
Mumbai concerts in 2016. However, in threats to disrupt the event, Mehta went
2019, he retired from the orchestra after 50 ahead with his programme of Beethoven,
years. The finale consisted of a presentation Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Haydn, besides a
of Franz Liszt’s ‘Piano Concerto No 2’ and collaboration with santoor player Abhay
Mahler’s ‘Symphony No 2 (Resurrection)’. Sopori and his folk group.
There have been the brickbats too. Mehta
often faced criticism for his glamorous image, Clear work ethic
and for a remark he once made about the New When he isn’t on stage, Mehta comes across
York Philharmonic Orchestra. Some people as a very charming and upright personality.
didn’t accept his occasional attempts to Having attended a couple of press
collaborate with rock acts like Frank Zappa, conferences, the book launch, a televised
Jethro Tull and The Who. There was also a conversation for an invited audience and a
time he faced the wrath of leading conductor rehearsal, one thing that became evident was
Georg Solti, who was offended because he his calmness. Whether he talks of music,
wasn’t consulted when Mehta was appointed politics, conflict areas, cricket or food, his
his deputy at the Los Angeles Philharmonic answers are blunt and to the point.
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