Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Zubin Mehta (71) is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He became the orchestra’s music adviser in 1968, its music director in 1977, and in 1981 its Music Director for Life of the orchestra, which today ranks among the world’s ten best.

The famous Indian conductor has a sentimental attachment to Belgrade, as he began his career here back in 1958 with the Belgrade Philharmonic.

He toured Belgrade with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1967 and 1976, and was among the first international artists whose visit welcomed the democratic changes of October 5, 2000.

He last performed in Belgrade two years ago, appearing with the Munich Philharmonic in the Belgrade Philharmonic concert series "Homage to Hans Swarowsky".

On that occasion he donated 30,000 dollars to the Belgrade Philharmonic’s instrument fund, which bears his name.

The Israel Philharmonic was founded in 1936 by the Polish violinist Bronisław Huberman, who sought to rescue Jewish musicians from the rising tide of Nazism in Europe, and the orchestra’s first concert was conducted by Arturo Toscanini.

Since Israel gained independence in 1948, the orchestra has been called the "Israel Philharmonic Orchestra". It gives more than 200 concerts around the world each year.