CANCELLED: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Zubin Mehta

In the list of the world’s greatest conductors, he must be the last one who has not made his debut in the Elbphilharmonie yet: Zubin Mehta, one of the top stars of the rostrum for some fifty years now. High time, then, to fill the gap. Mehta conducts the fantastic Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, whose musical culture was significantly influenced by Mariss Jansons.

Aged only 18, Zubin Mehta set out from his native India to learn the art of conducting in Vienna. That was in 1954. And he went on to pursue a truly international career. Among the places where he enjoyed the most success was Munich, where he was appointed director of music at the Munich State Opera and became an honorary member of the Munich Philharmonic. So it is only logical for him to appear now with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

The programme features three works that could not be more different: Wagner’s opulent »Rienzi« Overture, which was later used by the Nazis as an opening fanfare for their newreels. Then the short Symphony by Igor Stravinsky, which the composer gave the its first performance in 1946 with the New York Philharmonic, the same orchestra whose chief conductor Mehta was to become 32 years later. And last but not least, Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony, which appeals with its mix of Slav folk-song tradition and symphonic refinement à la Brahms.