Maestro Zubin Mehta himself introduced the program for the 77th season of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) at a press conference on Sunday. In his usual casual and friendly mode, dropping Yiddishisms as he spoke, he was clearly delighted with the schedule as he revealed highlights to the attentive audience.

 

 

 

“The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is comparable to any in the world,” proclaims Mehta. He should know. In 1981 Maestro Mehta was awarded the title of Music Director for Life of the IPO, just one step in his professional artistic collaboration with the orchestra, reaching back more than 50 years. He is also honorary life conductor and music director of many other of the world’s leading orchestras and operas, on all five continents.

 

Photo by Oded Antman

 

In outlining the program, Maestro Mehta spoke not only of the concerts in Israel (hopefully, beginning March 2013, all Tel Aviv performances at the newly-renovated Charles R. Bronfman Auditorium – formerly the Mann Auditorium), but also of the world tours the IPO will undertake. He reveled in the scintillating list of guest conductors and artists who are scheduled to appear with the orchestra throughout the season.

 

Photos by Oded Antman

 

Your correspondent was privileged to be at the gala IPO concert – its first-ever in India – in 1996 in Bombay (as it was still called then), some five years after Israel and India had established diplomatic relations. Zubin Mehta was born in Bombay, so it was a very special event for him. He spoke now of the orchestra’s series of concerts to be presented in China in 2013, celebrating 20 years of full diplomatic relations between Beijing and Jerusalem. We wonder wistfully if perhaps, one day, the IPO will break the frozen diplomatic ice by performing at a gala peace concert in Beirut, Baghdad or even Riyadh. Music and musicians have the power. Food for thought for Maestro Mehta and the IPO.

 

© Copyright 2012 Jonathan Danilowitz