Zubin Mehta Biography 
Zubin Mehta is an Indian Parsi conductor of Western classical music. He is the chief conductor of Florence, Italy's Maggio Musicale festival. At present He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Main Conductor for Valencia's opera house. He has received numerous awards including - Dan David Prize in 2007, Padma Bhushan in 1966, Padma Vibhushan in 2001, Second Annual Bridgebuilder Award at Loyola Marymount University in 2007, Praemium Imperiale of Japan in 2008, Wolf Prize in Arts in 1995, Special prize at the Israel Prize ceremony in 1991, "Lifetime Achievement Peace and Tolerance Award" of the United Nations in 1999, Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011, Echo Klassik in Berlin in 2011, Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, Nikisch Ring – the Vienna Philharmonic Ring of Honor, "Honorary Conductor" of the Vienna Philharmonic in 2001 and Munich Philharmonic in 2004. On 6 September 2013, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee awarded him the Tagore Award 2013 for his outstanding contribution towards cultural harmony.
Zubin Mehta was born in a Parsi family, Mumbai on April 29, 1936. His father, Mehli Mehta was a violinist and founding conductor of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. He completed his studies at St. Mary's School, Mumbai and St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. At school, he learnt piano from Joseph de Lima. At the age of 18, he became a music student at Vienna. He made his conducting debut in Vienna in 1958. He won the International Conducting Competition in Liverpool and was appointed assistant conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
He became the Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1960. He was appointed as the assistant conductor and later became the music director of Los Angeles Philharmonic and resigned in the year 1991, thus becoming the longest holder of the post - Music Director and Principal Conductor. Music Advisor of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 1969, chief conductor of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence in 1985 and main conductor of the Palau de les Arts are a few of the posts held by Zubin.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 07, 2014
