Zubin Mehta Quotes

India, Conductor
April 29, 1936

Zubin Mehta (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is currently music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). Mehta's father was the founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra, and from him, he received his early musical education. When he was 18 he enrolled in the Vienna state music academy where he graduated after three years with a diploma as a conductor. He began winning international competitions and conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic at age 21. Beginning in the 1960s Mehta gained experience by substituting for celebrated maestros throughout the world.

Also known as Music Director

After conducting Wagner, Beethoven's triple concerto is like taking an Alka Seltzer.

Zubin Mehta
- Like
- Beethoven
- Wagner
I love the creativity of New York, but I don't enjoy the city - I don't like living here.

Zubin Mehta
- Love
- City
- Creativity

Music is the message of peace, and music only brings peace.

Zubin Mehta
- Music
- Peace
- Only
I believe in music.

Zubin Mehta
- Music
- Believe
- I Believe
New York is really the place to be; to go to New York, you're going to the center of the world, the lion's den.

Zubin Mehta
- World
- New
- New York
I would convert to Judaism if the operation didn't hurt so much.

Zubin Mehta
- Hurt
- Operation
- Judaism
New York for a long time was a kind of conductor's graveyard.

Zubin Mehta
- Time
- Long
- New
I endeavor that all orchestras I conduct sound Central European.

Zubin Mehta
- Sound
- Endeavor
- Central

I think conductors do spend too little time with their orchestras.

Zubin Mehta
- Time
- Think
- I Think
Most Arab Israelis speak Hebrew, but not the other way around. It's about time that changed.

Zubin Mehta
- Time
- Speak
- Most
I love to conduct opera.

Zubin Mehta
- Love
- I Love
- Opera
I have a few homes, and Los Angeles is certainly one of them.

Zubin Mehta
Israel is a piece of real estate that neither Jew or Arab will let go of; neither will leave these shores. And so they will have to learn to live together.

Zubin Mehta
- Live
- Real
- Together
My family and relatives alone could fill Shanmukhananda Hall in Bombay.

Zubin Mehta
- Family
- Alone
- Relatives

I love India.

Zubin Mehta
- Love
- I Love
- India
I am often critical of Israel's policies when in the country, but then feel defensive of them when overseas.

Zubin Mehta
- Israel
- Critical
- Policies
Some musical directors have more chutzpah. They pick up the phone and talk people into giving. I prefer to call and say 'thank you' after the money has been contributed.

Zubin Mehta
- People
- Up
- Money
Go to the young conductors who are not making it, and you will hear how we shouldn't push ourselves or sell ourselves, how they don't have the right connections and the right opportunities. Well, you can be sure they've had the opportunities.

Zubin Mehta
- Opportunities
- Connections
I wish that only three residents of Tel Aviv could see what conditions on the West Bank are like. Living in such proximity, most Israelis have no idea about the adversity on the West Bank.

Zubin Mehta
- Wish
- Adversity
- I Wish
I have been to Kashmir many times, especially with my family, in the '70s.

Zubin Mehta
- Family
- Times
- Been

If North American musicians would only know how uncomfortable life is for European musicians.

Zubin Mehta
- Life
- American
- Know
I sometimes feel it is to my disadvantage that I have not conducted the Cleveland Orchestra or the Boston or Chicago symphonies, but then I have had to sacrifice something in order to have enough time with my orchestras.

Zubin Mehta
- Time
- Sometimes
- Sacrifice
I'm a Persian Jew, and we don't speak Hebrew.

Zubin Mehta
- Speak
- Hebrew
- Persian
One learns how to change gears within a concert repertoire.

Zubin Mehta
- Change
- How
- Within