“Conductor Zubin Mehta said Monday he would retire from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in October 2018 after more than 55 years of musical ties, the last three decades as musical director,” writes Amir Mendel in last Monday’s (12/26) Haaretz (Israel). “Mehta first directed the orchestra in 1961 and was appointed music adviser in 1969 and music director in 1978. The Philharmonic awarded him the title music director for life in 1981…. He conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1962 to 1978, made the Israel Philharmonic his base, and conducted other important orchestras.… The New York Philharmonic also appointed him music director in 1978, a post he held for 13 years…. Mehta has also been the chief conductor of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence since 1985, a post he will leave next year…. Mehta is an Indian citizen and a permanent resident of the United States, but he stayed in Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1991 Gulf War. He tried to promote peace through dialogue, culture and music…. Although the Philharmonic has strong management and musicians, Mehta’s departure is likely to cause a shake-up requiring a reorganization, new music and a new identity.”
Posted January 3, 2017
