Posting by Leah
When: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 7:00pm
What: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 75th Anniversary and Zubin Mehtas 50th anniversary of conducting.
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta, Conductor
Yefim Bronfman, Piano
Dorman Azerbaijani Dance (North American Orchestral Premiere)
Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
Mahler Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
Zubin Mehta returns to New Yorks Carnegie Hall with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and guest pianist Yefim Bronfman as part of a U.S. Tour celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Orchestra and the 50th anniversary of his conducting debut. Presented by the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO), the AFIPO invites you to join Benefit Co-Chairmen Terre Blair and Marvin Hamlisch and Lauren and John Veronis to commemorate these milestones. The celebration begins with the IPO concert at Carnegie Hall followed by supper at The Plaza.
Fifty years ago, distinguished conductor Eugene Ormandy was forced to cancel a performance with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra due to illness. An up-and-coming, 25-year-old conductor named Zubin Mehta came to the rescue, launching a relationship that remains creative and prosperous five decades later.
Celebrating the concurrent 75th anniversaries of both the Israel Philharmonic Orchestras and Music Director Zubin Mehtas birth years, as well as the 50th anniversary of Maestro Mehtas conducting debut with the same ensemble, the Orchestra proudly announces its 2011 United States tour, performing eight concerts in seven cities February 19, 2011 through March 1, 2011.
As a 75-year old symbol of cultural diplomacy, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra brings its music and message of peace to concerts in Naples, West Palm Beach, New York City, Newark, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Mehta and the IPO bring no less than five separate programs to these cities, performing works by Beethoven, Haydn, Liszt, Mahler, Schubert and Webern.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestras Carnegie Hall program offers two additional features unique to the New York City performance: Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman joins the Orchestra in Liszts Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major; and to celebrate the IPOs role as an ambassador of cultural communication between Israel and the rest of the world, the Orchestra performs the North American Premiere of a new orchestral version of Israeli composer Avner Dormans Azerbaijani Dance.
Where: The AFIPO Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Post-Concert Supper at The Plaza Hotel.
RSVP: For more information and concert tickets please visit http://www.afipo.org/ or www.carnegiehall.org All proceeds from the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Benefit concerts help ensure the financial security of the IPO.
About The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Zubin Mehta:
Known as the Heartbeat of a Nation, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and peace in its role as cultural emissary for the State of Israel. Since its inception in 1936, the IPO has been dedicated to presenting the worlds greatest classical music to audiences in Israel and worldwide. The Orchestra tours as an international emissary for Israel, serving as an exponent of cultural diplomacy for the nation while upholding its reputation as an integral part of the international music scene.
AFIPO is a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel’s premiere cultural ambassador. Americans with ties to Israel have always recognized the importance of the IPO’s special role in Israel and throughout the world and have been a vital component in creating and sustaining the Orchestra. AFIPO’s objective was crystallized in 1980 through the joint vision of Fredric R. mann and Zubin Mehta. It was at this time that an endowment fund was established in the United states to help ensure the IPO’s future.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra could not celebrate its 75th Anniversary without recognizing the extraordinary achievements Maestro Zubin Mehta has made both as the IPOs Music Director, and as one of the worlds preeminent musical leaders. During these 50 years since Maestro Mehtas conducting debut with the IPO, he has remained not only a great friend of the IPO and the State of Israel, but has also become one of the most sought-after conductors in the world. In addition to his title as Music Director for Life of the IPO, Mehta has held the post of Music Director for Montreal Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Bavarian State Opera and New York Philharmonicfor which, at 13 years, he remains the organizations longest-serving Music Director, conducting over one thousand concerts. He was also made an Honorary Member of the New York Philharmonic, an homage formerly bestowed on Wagner, Liszt, Dvork, Copland, and Bernstein, among others.
In addition to his active career and multiple music directorships, Zubin Mehta has maintained a strong commitment to exposing todays youth to classical music. He founded the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in his birthplace of Mumbai, where more than 300 children annually find access to Western Classical Music. The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv educates young talents in Israel and is closely related to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, as is a project of teaching young Arab-Israelis in the cities of Shwaram and Nazareth, in conjunction with local teachers and members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Maestro Mehta has conducted over two thousand concerts as Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, including multiple tours spanning five continents.
In 2006 Zubin Mehta was recognized for his extraordinary artistic achievements as a Kennedy Center Honoree. For Maestro Mehta the evening held an extra tribute as world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman and members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra surprised their conductor by secretly traveling to Washington to perform in his honor.
Grammy-award winning pianist Yefim (Fima) Bronfman has wowed critics and audiences worldwide with his solo recitals, prestigious orchestral engagements, and expanding catalogue of recordings, being especially admired for his performances of modern Russian repertory. Bronfmans 2010-2011 US season highlights include performances with the orchestras of Houston, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. Beyond the US, he will perform with Europes most celebrated orchestras, including the Concertgebouw, the Berlin Philhjarmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Berlin Staatskapelle, among others.
