Even at the age of 88, Mumbai-born maestro Zubin Mehta has a child-like enthusiasm when talking about music and conducting the orchestra in a career that has spanned over 60 years with some of the best. So, what inspires him to continue doing what he does, we ask? He quickly expresses, “My life conducting orchestra is like a molten lava, it is never stops. It just goes on and on.
In fact, I have just had two weeks of vacation and now I go on till Christmas and then again.” ADVERTISEMENT Mehta has returned to Mumbai to conduct NCPA's Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI)’s Autumn 2024 Season concerts after his first time in 2023, presented in association with the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation. The performances, which will happen on August 17-18 and August 24-25, will see him conduct the orchestra featuring the compositions of Johann Strauss II and Richard Strauss respectively.
The first two concerts will feature light Viennese music by the great Johann Strauss II, including ‘Overture to Die Fledermaus’ and ‘Emperor Waltz’. For the performance, the SOI will be joined by soprano soloist Chen Reiss, known to be one of the most perfect Strauss voices. The following two concerts that will take place next weekend will see the music of German composer Richard Strauss, best known for his tone poems and operas.
The concerts include Don Juan, the India premiere of Ein Heldenleben, and Four Last Songs, which will be sung by soprano Krassimira Stoyanova. Undoubtedly, all of this .