Several people of Indian origin have
created a name for themselves in the field of performing arts. There are a few
who have earned as much respect, love and admiration as Zubin Mehta.
Born into a Parsi family in Bombay (now
Mumbai) on 29 April, 1936, he aspired to become a doctor. But, he ended up
learning Western Classical music in Vienna.
Zubin made his conducting debut in Vienna
in 1958. The same year, he won the ‘International Conducting Competition’ in
Liverpool and was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic.
He rose from the ranks and became its Chief Conductor. He also conducted for
the New York Philharmonic.
Later, he joined the Israel Philharmonic as Music
Advisor and was later made ‘Music Director for life’ of the orchestra, a unique
distinction for a conductor. He has also conducted for the prestigious Vienna
Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic.
Zubin is known for his flamboyant, vigorous
and forceful style of conducting. He has performed in some of the best theatres
in the world and his achievements and life was documented in Terry Sanders’ film ‘Portrait of Zubin
Mehta’.
Although a citizen of the USA now, he has
not given up his Indian citizenship. He is also an honorary citizen of Israel
and Austria. The Indian Government honoured him with a Padma Bhushan and later with
a Padma Vibhushan in 1996 and 2001, respectively.
He was voted by the people of
Israel as the ‘117th- greatest Israeli of all time’. He has received several
prizes from the United Nations and has his name inscribed in the Hollywood Hall
of Fame.
Zubin, nowadays, runs a music school for
the ‘Israeli-Arabs’. He has become a legend in the field of Western Classical
music, a genre, which like its Indian counterpart, is very difficult to master.
No comments:
Post a Comment