Nov 1967

VOL. IV No. Price 1— F ' NOVEMBER 1967 new medium for old wisdom 50 Paise ? i I / I £N< I ft J * }5wB»‘ ver s 4 4 4 « 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 B B £ 1-^ Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi, Shahbanu of Iran is keenly interested in woman. She rides, swims, and skis, and Social Work, Literary activities and Arts. Iran ’s young Crown Prince, now almost The Empress of Iran, Shahbanou Farah seven years old, has already had two years was born in Tehera® on October 14, 1938. Miss Farah .Diba was ‘educated first at the Jeanne School and then at the Razi School in Teheran. She obtained her children: H.I.H. Reza Pahlavi, the Crown Saccataureate in Natural Science, then Prince pf Iran, born on October 31, 1960, left for Paris where she lived the life of an H.I.H. Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi born ordinary student and worked towards her on March 11, 1963, and H.I.H. Prince Ali arts degree at the Ecole d-Architecture. Reza Pahlavi born on April 28, 1966. Her marriage to His Imperial Majesty Security precautions Security precautions were the heaviest ever mounted in Teheran for the corona ­ tion of the Shah, who has survived two assassination attempts and a plane cra^, but no incidents of mob scenes interrupted the half-hour parade in the shaded garden of the Gulistan Palace. of skiing instruction under her supervi ­ sion. Their Royal Highnesses have three A crowd of 5,500 waited in a grand- took place on December 24, 1959. As Empress, she showed keen interest in social work, sports and art. Most of her time and energy are now devoted to the promotion and development of social welfare. She exercises supervision over Iran ’s welfare institutions by frequent personal visits. When the Qazvin area of Iran was devastated by a major earthquake in 1962, stand in the courtyard of the 33-year-old the Empress was OS hand personally to palace, but the Shah and the Empress see that relief work was effectively entered through a back door instead of handled. parading along the 150-yard-long carpeted The Empress is also President of an " tunway; Association for the protection of those suffering from tuberculosis, as well as guardian of the Royal Society for Publica ­ tions and Tran^ations. She has been un ­ tiring in the encouragement of young artists, playwr ight s an d others connected father ’s “salam ” uniform, was the first to with the arts. She is a frequent visitor to walk through the blazing hall of mirrors art galleries. to the throne room. Led by the commander of the imperial guards and an escort with swords aloft, the little Crown Prince Reza, looking solemn in a gold-encrusted replica of his 1Coronation Celebrations by Ido-Iran Society ad Iran Cdid louse. Iran Cultural House decorated. flags, festoons and multi-coloured lights with Crown in prominence. The decora ­ tion was left for 10 days for admiring eyes of thousands of passersby. A section of the prominent invitees entertained at the Crystal Room of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Government Officials, University Professors and the elite of all com- munitees met in an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.1 t i CORONATION f I I i Coronation is a traditional ceremony son, now an illustrious monarch of illus- of the Royalties handed down from ages, trious career, whose coronation the world in a way acknowledging pompously and has recently witnessed, ceremonially the authority of the Ruler Scjme kings have never had a coronation oyer His subjects. It was usually taking and some of the modern monarchies of Europe have abandoned the ttadition. Reza Shah Pahlavi ascended the Throne on r2th December 1925. The recent Coronation took place at the Gulistan Palace where Rezashah Pahlavi was crowned Shansheh on 25th April 1926 under similar pomp and pageantry. The Peacock Throne has become the Some kings have never had a coronation place in the beginning of the ruler ’s reign. But in the His Imperial Majesty R^ ipfidilavi Aryamehr, Shanshah of Iran, this Coronation does not mark the beginning of a great king ’s reign but is an incident within it. His Imperial Majesty is the Shanshah for the last 26 years since 1941, when his illustrious father, Reza Shiah ^hhiavi abdicated the throne of Iran under duress of political intreagues, ceremonial throne of Iran and ever since new case of Mohammed leaving the throne to his then 22 year old installation Tehran has become the place for coronations. IF tT’3 TIME 4 e »¦ > -9 SODIRIN® (TABLET • Non Catoric, Non Nutrittva Swaabnar • Indicated In Diabetic Diata And Weifl+it Reduction. • 1 Ta Wat Teaspoons Suoar- • Na Bitter After Taste And Completely ' SMMa^in Cddklnig. BaMnii A Heating. • ENasobws'fmmadiately In Liquids • Paeldna Of tOft And 500 tablets. . _ PLEASE REMIT YOWR ^ffiSCRnmON. TOHncs 9i PEACOCK THWN5 TAKHTE — TAOOS — MAIYUR - ASAN ASAN —Am^i*** narchs, King Shahpur the Great. It weighs less by half than the Quajar ’s Kiani Crown and contains 3380 diamonds, Five eme ­ ralds, two sapphires and some 368 pearls; This throne and the set of Crowns The original Peacock Throne of Nadir ­ shah is lost somewhere and is not trace ­ able. The present Peacock Throne which was > U..— fashioned byJa«Ali_S«^^^^ tie iewels Many of the present property of the people of Ira . jewels are / heritage of the order of the Shanshah in I960 they back collections by the Quajars national currency as part of the work­ ing wealth of the nation, but they have the one used for the Coronation is Dynasty. It is bedecked with pure Persian crown distant past and notably Fate Ali Shah. _ The other symbol accompanying the functional as well as ceremonial and sym- ceremony is tained in a The Royal Girdle used in tion has a huge <------- carats as its buckle. The ] fine '------ - pearls. The Royal Sceptre of s ““ sfe the history of moifcrn IrThe progress ^hgre ah opportia^ tot^anLs sinre »:biev^ imelHispects of life is truly phenomenal. Stea Y o consistent reforms ha^ struc- bonus tp fex^^ ^ trac^g^ the country ’s social and economic struc (Whru ‘ffiaU tutes. exoloitation was The feudal system equality andi^ ’ Sv Iw against a well-planned , anil w^- exwutedPcampaign throughout the land. ReEorms The following rejjorms, initiated by the Shahanshah, found Wular ® referendum of 1963 wnen . carried by an overwhelming adoptihg his 6-poiHt reforms programme as the basis of the country s the people foreign c„ His M^esty k an vereign aC’——— -¦ situa a J three landlords td against the i»ogra«^'. . .aj- • Tilw • I welcome. That of the law nationalizing ; country, th^by valuable new source c. of for the sale (3) Ratification of ^aw Government-owned factories to formw di^jirspjfh< the land reform By <- .. . .., an iinpQi^t ®hace w <]i ttse to JLsjiMWif RatificaUpn law, whet^ wQitors in has sin^ tSsete „ tevoUnized of nett pi# «« of land-holdings has abolished, women have iaSv is up against a uiell-planned, anti w^- racy the land. the national -they were majority i social revolution. 12 as ws . ert uBtioe and *?’ b^t eW man is available ina| the aihdmit P9i4 te<®® l««i*n- (6) Cieation coS^ufeWj litate the u??, vwwf _ 1-........... youn^ m^n 1___ against illiteracy. used to not C.-- Persepohs was not L^- KSSSIW (6) Creation of a iU-his di^^. v^^paid A tte etech^^ law v<5ing ri^ts to women. Literacy Corps to by Stion-wide camp^^ "*‘’°®*L^”cSipWd for imlitary young mpn cpt^ip** __ namnatei vice aS teachers in a -—‘1 vAl i 1' ¦ 9 I r POLSON S OFFEE • BUTTER ’ TE/ ? % w ' ' *3 I if ) 'r.. J.. i £ 1“ f r 4 ( \HL I -) I ved of tremendous value in settling dis­ putes without having to refer to the judi ­ cial offices located in districts and provin ­ ces. Better Justice The creation of these Houses is the first constructive step towards the establish ­ ment of justice in the remotest corner of the country. In addition to a biography of Reza Shah the Shahanshah is the author of two books. One is entitled ‘"Mission for My Country/’ which covers the history of Iran, its political and social evolution over the centuries, as well as its present and future plans. It also gives a frank, and intimate account of the Monarch ’s private life. This-book has been translated and published in nine foreign languages. The entire proceeds from this book have been donated for educational and cultural pur ­ poses through the Pahlavi Foundation and the Royal Society for Publications and Translations. The other which has just r »» All the above six items were shown to us in Bombay on the Cinema Screen one by one in their reality as they were execu- i ted in Iran. Witnessing these reels made , satisfying experience. The following points were later added ; Health Programmes (1) Health Corps: — To expand public health prograihmes together with medical ahd nursing Itervices to the far-flung and isolated vifeges erf the country. (2) Development Corps: — To give guidance and assistance to the villagers towards self-help, programmes of ' road building, etc. Members graduates in tech- nedogy, engineering and agriculture form ­ ed the corps. (3) Houses of Justice: — In order to enable the vast majority of people living in far-flung rural communities to have re ­ course to proper judiciar procedures in the settlement of their local problems. Houses of Justice have been ^taWished in many rural areas. These houses which in reality --------------- .«««.•> are like courts of law on the village level been released under the title oi nlute are composed of the elders of the village Revolution” has already aroused world- and the literacy corpsmen and have pro- wide acclamation. 13r* i i - fourth PUTN The start Development 1 i' t ) ! objectives ^Tvally betw^ (11) The total caoital investment during in Iran. The ) divided atmosV — ’ • bilhonb ---------------publit"i ^fo^'g^ likx.lv to reach tarytS -S^ trial Maiesty. They BES^^7^deT.echnolp • iinral oopulatfid and ei^latic annual growth of agricultural P°P_„.„, nooulstWO.. TS«, F* in the utilisation -jricultural purposes annual increase in production year ’— objectives run for five years are as follows; from March 21, 1968. sr will be Rials c^ the end c_ end of the Fourth Plan. (2) An 1— production. (3) An increase water resources for agi (4) An i— the oil sector. (5) An 1 production in the nation^ 8% from $249 at annual increase of 14-15 pet ““t- flie private is more His Im] iressure. J Jhder t&e of of in industrial lavenc is estimated at 3 % . ¦ Inhere are < industriahzatm country of tn foreign mvest^_^ state a^ ptt'^' mixed economy |,alf. Ija enterpri^ ^n ’^^^hich began with Re by its present r There are ; mixed economy ___ Shah is . thf* oroduc* narch. (6} An annual increase m tion t- ^7) The construction kilometres of i like and 1 A Organiz^ion and p.noo kilometres nt SusHies P™®'™a “macWM ‘‘S existing airports; and the cons 9 new airports. (8) A reduction in oer c^nt at the <—__ of main of ion of proceeding '«* ''“r±S “ f rom This year ’s pt<^"^ cement ^ertiliK ih)_A teu» ------ .1..-Ihi"' Plan to 54 EdiWe oils,teKtiles<^ _ per cent at the en o chemicals are ¦ (c*"wool, coth §t^?^^^T^n anr creation of natural resources of ,ute. at “primary, secon- in the illiteracy are go^tig ahead alon educational facilities and higher levels. (9) An increase in -- tai beds 14 • J will ^jext' few ye^ ’ of prosperity the 1- * * ? ~ a will take this as pos^ie f cn and will taa j nities or outlet tor rigm A. new era through in tak e note ~ ¦ "T ____' ; the ‘— sr ce^nt. - willI I; musings from IRAN by IRANIS empty stomach Once we smiled on our _ laugh after heavy meals. We are delight bursting with pleasure^ ' ocaaC in being m»d ,, *... .h., — X« shoes and The days that m^ke differently does that intangi- How very ble something —---- our minds and our vent of the Royal Pahlavis trouble has taken wings, of rejoicing ---- We breathe air free and easy ness gets us new suit^^ new “gives us new eyes. -happiness - affects now we hearts7 WitMhe^^a^- mad wh^^^ The pillars of promise - of happiness in being mad . „ Jse and personality support our us happy make us wise. ” happiness. Our Beloved monarca We seize happiness with both hands with perfect up tlje now when the present hour is happy. Joy words and d «is of the Coronation resounds in the air and he.ghU of human gran rebounds on our 1------ in full abandon. Happiness can never be taken away f. in thoughts —I. He be ------ £? niakes others happ^ from His previle^ of life to I his personal concern i which is lived comes happy who t- from us and for His happiness derives We do of giving all good things hearts.We enjoy ourselves happiness *1 ever it remains a beautiful memory. how Peacock got its tail and subjects. Peacock Regal Armchair. " u ’"’7 Pe'XrRegai' ATmchair. ““He has a realisjic idea of We are happy that a great monarch sits Whatever be the pattmular CUgllV ‘--- X Q|j^^5^ails in History repeatsdrsett — men make tte same mistake ovwa^ o Now oil and toil are no man ’s spoil; g«to^ “'l|Sah has ehminated they go back titto our soil. We have chan- this human factor ^d ^te ged everything and we are changed too. of histW ™ ^pw ® of cheerful today and ot dreams for wish “hs „„ i„..iined to a with vision to reach our target. ¦¦¦) knocked our head . ................. ... ’and against times that have refused to budge. “We slept .beneath the basked under the sun, lived a life ot do ’ and died with nothing done. oil and toil are no man ’s spoil; sufe a on it. Too long have we against things i delight most n< «¦ € brand moon, ‘going to Now iiseff adversely b^ai setback every time. < has eliminated We are men confident tomorrow, degree of delight in the vision tomorrow, which we are today. We are inclined to a with vision of the real great indeed, building up Payande baad Aryameher. Ala Hazrat Shans 161«- ZUBIN COMES TO TOWN 4^ S' 5- l Zubin comes to town with great jubila ­ tion around the return of the Hero after a brilliant and successful combat of life in which he has earned laurels and learnt humility. He left the country as Mister and returned a Maestro — a collosal achievement worthy of adoration and applause. M^a has acknowledged him as Indian abroad and bestowed e inaian abroaa ana bestowed on , him the title of Padma-Bhushan. A title is comparatively a dead decoration before the tremendous ovation he has had from the music loving circles and persons here and everywhere where he carried his lively mission of great music as joy for ever. In every sense he is a true Ambassador International and was right in once retort ­ ing that he was spreading more good-will than many a political wall-flower com ­ missioned abroad. Anything that went with him was mutually spontaneous. i 4 The Parsi community expressed its longing of his belonging to us at a mam ­ moth gathering overflowing far beyond the doors, corridors to steps and street pavement. The lucky ones saw him addressing the gathering and the rest heard him from loud-speakers. He said “I feel proud of the welcome and honour given to me by the Parsi community to which I belong. I am an Indian and will remain an Indian. I owe my rise to my father Mehli Mehta who put music in my ears and in my heart. Twenty years ago my father introduced classical music in Bom ­ bay and formed a symphony Orchestra, which he conducted so ably and occassi'on- ally left me to conduct it or train up those taking part in it. What was latent in me slowly became patent. I owe eqally much to my training abroad as well as to my good luck, which got me chances to con ­ duct orchestras when their appointed con ­ ductors suddenly took ill. I regret that though there is so much appreciation of good music and so much talent Bombay has no orchestra of its own. With material al hand there should be at least one in Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi. If Tokio has five I fail to understand why you do not. have even one. All the big cities I have visited have their own orchestras. I advise you to form a school of Western Music first. Wherever I have gone I have been- introduced as Indian conductor and have not come across any anti-American oppo ­ sition anywhere. I am greatly indebted to Israel, where for last several years, I am conducting their orchestra every year from 25th year of my age and am commission ­ ed to visit Israel every year till we both reach the age of fifty — (which will syn ­ chronise). I therefore have a soft corner for Israel. .1 was always longing to come to my birth-place. When I wanted to come I had no money — now I want to come I have no time. Though I like to stay here longer I regret I cannot. But I shall return here in 1969 with my two children. I am keenly aware of my simple, orthodox Parsi bring- ing-up in my family surrounding and I like to remain a Parsi and an Indian ” “All my orchestra men and women are from various countries. They all have American citizenship except their conductor. ” 17 If a t his home-town Incicentally Bombay and Los Angeles are linked as “sister cities ” and Zubin has ! i; When he arrived in amongst the first things he did was to v^isit the house he lived in. with joy the happy memories of my boy ­ hood ”. A Jashan ceremony was arranged by his mother — ----------- the ceremony <------ - - a Jehangir Shroff met him there as Presi- munificence of the Government of and requested him to attend the function “That refreshed added the link of cultural values. If we as a small community have so - Tehmina. He attended heartily welcomed Zubm and so wildly y donned in Paghdi and dagli, echoed our sentiments there is need for a typical combination of Parsi dress. Mr. expressing our gratefulness dent of the Bombay Parsi Association u s.A., who have made this pleasure and requited him possible to us to enjoy. Zubin is great but (organised jointly with all important rarsi f Institutions and Societies) in Parsis desired to give him a hearty wel- except in an atmosphere cl^ly near i come. He accepted the invitation resulting calibre. If Zubin was superb the entire in the mammoth gathering in K. R. Cama orchestra who supported him and whom Hall. Lady Mody, Mr. Jehangir Shroff supported was extra-ordinary, briUianI and others delivered appropriate speech- faultless. But I am no music critic tc es. Mrs. Shehra Vazifdar came out with a impressive ones. T( prophesy. Parsi community will Orchestra we say “We loved your mu (Age after age noble sons like Zubin will sic and admired your talent . continue to be born in our community). Zubin was in Tehran during the coro ­ nation WVVIV, VTXXWXX ------------ ---------- - i----------------I----------------- Majesty the Shah of Iran. The Shah as ^^his involves transporting hundrec His gracious gesture of goodwill towards pounds of music alone. The total weigl the Parsi community asked Zubin to con ­ vey His Majesty ’s following message ; “When you go to India and see your exceeds twelve tons, community men tell them to return to their original home. Iran is willing to take you back and for those who like to come work permit will not be necessary. ” There orchestra and other expenses^, is future in this call. Both India and Iran ygur figure. We may in th are developing countries with a difference print your figures as test. . that Iran has no population pressure, problem. which the no man can stand out as outstanding Moving an orchestra of 105 musician and their equipment by but, train, or aii week, when he met His Imperial plane presents a mammoth logistical prol of the orchestra ’s instruments, musi wardrobe and other necessary proj Consider the expense of transport, p£ sage money of a chartered plane for t . Put don the next iss P. B. W 18ZUBIN MEHTA 1 I I' ?• h MUSICAL PROFILE welcomes back ’*’«> Officer. t 5(us.''X> (India). U of this sound, Mehta with a wink replied: “Suntan, I suppose. ” Zubin Mehta was born in Bombay in 1936. Music lovers here will recall his father — violinist Mehli Mehta — who was at first a Concert-master and later a Conductor of the Bombay Symphony This city of his birth Zubin Mehta who, weaving his magic musical spell around the world, has brought pride and joy to the whole of India. The seventh and the youngest Music Director of the Los Angeles Phil ­ harmonic Orchestra, Zubin has been hailed as “a musical phenomenon ” — Orchestra. Zubin was a familiar figure “the boy-wonder from Bombay. ” around the concert hall too. “From the Coupled with the almost additional gift cradle on, I heard chamber music ’, he of youth, Zubin has everything a conduct- recalls. “I became acquainted with Beeth- or of a major symphony orchestra needs. f 4 He began studying the violin and piano with his father when he was 7 years old. or of a major symphony orchestra needs, oven quartets before I ever heard a sym- Critics, in a score and more of world phony, and could sing all this music capitals, have commented on his brilliant before I could read a note. musicianship, dynamic public presence, executive ability and serene diplomacy. To these gifts is added an oblique sense At 16, he started conducting concerto of humour. “I believe I have made con- accompaniments for his father. At one tact with the musicians, ” Mehta said as a stage Zubin put aside his musical career new Los Ange les season began last winter, in order to study medicine. Everytime I “The colour of the orchestral sound has sat down to write an exam, or cut up a changed. ” Asked to name the new colour dog-fish, ” he admits with a chuckle, there 21r 11--= so, at first critics were cautious, refusing to be carried away by what they thought might be a mere “flash in the pan. ” But I was with a Brahms symphony running through my head ’.” In 1957, in Vienna, he graduated with a diploma in Conducting. The following year he conducted the Vienna “Musikve- rein ” orchestra and in the same year out (______ , prize in the first International Conductors be carried away by what they thought t- ! 11 ing year he was engaged as the seventh permanent 1.----- confessed that his first confronta- their histcSy. after his third pair of concerts the dam of year he conaucveu ............- their caution burst. Soon so rein ” orchestra and in the same year out ^as the impression Zubin Mehta of hundred candidates, he won the first ^im in Los Angeles that the follow- prize in the first International Conductors engaged as the seventh Competition in Liverpool, England. permanent Music Director of the Los Winthrop Sargeant, in the New Yorker, Angeles Philharmonic - the youngest in once confessed that his first confronta- tj^eir history. tion with Mehta was for him an exafng . y, Bamboyance on aL maL of the art of conducting “forget that showmanship is a great asset Western-style symphony orchestras ” with to the profession. We have been able to “a special feeling for poise, repose and bring certain things over to the public majesty, such as is not often found among ^nagnetically and that requires acting. ”. Zubin ’s “magnetic touch ” has him step ­ ping round the world. In 1965 he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Later he conducted the Metropolitan Opera in New York^ As Newsweek report- “a special feeling for poise, jepose conductors of his generation. ” After his success in Liverpool, import ­ ant guest engagements followed. Zubin substituted for a conductor in Yugoslavia at extremely short notice. I— — ing round the world. In 1965 he made his he conducted the Metropolitan He flew in from Vienna to fill in the places vacated performance of Verdi ’s I score “Mehta was like a man intoxicated. The his face lilGt Los Angeles. Later he became the young, est t,_- r ------- Berlin Philharmonics. At 25, he was flickered across invited to conduct the 25-year-old Israel ^pon a screen. ¦ every year In 1961 Zubin Mehta came to Los Angeles at short notice to substitute for aplomb and showmanship of a by Fritz Reiner and Igor Markevitch in while conducting without a , _ ______ “Mehta was like a man intoxicated. The conductor to lead the Vienna and p^ggions of love, hate, jealousy and self ____ ______ _ _____ _j his face liiit invited to conduct the 25-year-old Israel jmageg upon a screen. His rotted Philharmonic, which asked him to returnoperatic . punches, fe hands till their mutual 50th birthday, g^^bbed, pierced, slashed as he guided Verdi ’s complex musical traffic with the aplomb and showmanship of a Roman policeman. And when he had finished he the ailing Fritz Reiner. He was then 24._______________ ^^g^ famous of operatic He came to the first rehearsal, placed the Worses as fresh and exciting to the score on the music stand — unopened — ear as a great painting is to the eye when then gave a sharp downbeat and struck a centuries of grime are i spark that electrified the orchestra. Even all the dazzling colour and details. 22 to the first rehearsal, placed the j^grses as fresh and exciting to the the music stand — unopened removed to show! f I -ik Thiring the summer months, Mehta is in constant demand in the opera and concert houses of Europe ’s Festivals. In 1964 he created a sensation at the opening concert of the Salzburg festival. As Time put it “Seldom has old Salzburg witnessed such an ovation ........ a capacity audience of 2,200 stamped, clapped and bravoed in a demonstration that verged on Beatle- mania ’ Readers of Parsiana it triumph resulted when Zubin conducted Verdi ’s “Requiem ” in the Ca ­ thedral Plaza in Spoleto, Italy, in 1966. The performance was described as a ‘reve ­ lation ’ by the press. In 1966, in Washington the Govern ­ ment of India bestowed on this “great son of the country ” the Padma Bhushan — the highest award given for outstanding ac ­ complishments in the Arts and Sciences. Bombay is grateful to Zubin Mehta for brightening the image of India every- where, for str^gthening the bonds of arts, culture and friendship. Courtesy Tata Industries and Time and Talent Club. and all Zoroastrians staying away or abroad wishing to offer MACHI to the Atashbehram or Agiari (of their choice) in Bombay will please place their orders with Warden’s Mysore (Pvt) Ltd. 378. GRANT ROAD. BOMBAY 7. Our reputation is the guarantee of your wish carried out religiously. 4 4 Machi value Rs. 11,15, 21 onwards plus Rs. 2/- for Agiari and Rs. 3/- for Atashbehram Mobed Sahibs per custom. 23¦f !i I (i IN THE MOULD OF MAESTROS THE GREAT Istambul and rehearsing their orchestra .. I will make my debut in Bombay ’ with my orchestra. ” If Mehta adopts this proprietory tone towards the Los Angeles Philharmonic it is because, in the words of Time magazine, he has “made the orchestra one of the best in the country. ” His first association to The popular image of an orchestra conductor, nurtured over the years by such men as Arturo Toscanini, Leopold Stokowski and Sir Thomas Beecham, is that of an autocratic and imperious figure with the gift of drawing great music through the power of his baton. More than any other conductor of his generation, he seems cast in the mould of the old maestros. The son of Mehli Mehta impact on both orchestra and audience former conductor of the Bombay Sym ­ phony Orchestra, Zubin Mehta has had a musical career with few parallels in recent years. He made a dramatic entry into the world of music in 1958, when he won the first international conductor ’s competition in Liverpool. The 100 other contestants with it was in 1961, when he subsBttt«d for the ailing Fritz Reiner. So strong was that he was engaged as music director the following season, becoming its seventh and youngest permanent conductor. Aside from his appearances in LOs Angeles, Mehta is in constant demand in the opera and concert halls of Europe, and wherever he goes he is a sensation. When he conducted the opening concert of the Salzburg Festival in 1964, it was reported that “two thousand people stamped, clapped and bravoed in a de ­ monstration verging on Beatlemania. ” In Israel, Mehta has received incredible there represented some of the most formi ­ dable musical talent in the West. This launched Mehta on a series of guest-con ­ ducting engagements that had him criss ­ crossing the continent of Europe. He — _— became the youngest man in history ovations, some of them lasting - lead both the Vienna and Beilin Philhar- thirty minutes. In his dttrnf with the New monies and in the years since he has con- York Metropolitan Opera, an observer monies, ano in me y following began to cheer even before he had lifted the baton. ” It is difficult to explain Mehta ’s specta ­ cular ascent to fame. But from the con ­ siderable volume of musical comment already written on him, critics seem to be in agreement on certain points. monies, and in ducted almost every orchestra of note in the world. Of his recent world tour under the U.S. Government’s Cultural Presenta­ tions Programme, he says : “This is the ideal way of making music — not going 24{ I £f' ¦si ( ?*" ed to give the musicians something to There is, first of all, A ehta’s sense of rather too much for granted and he want- authority, his ease in the conductor’s role, ed to give the musicians something to and his deep knowledge of the function of think about. the baton — qualities ordinarily attributed to many years of experience. He knows precisely what he wants from the orches­ tra, and how to get it. When Zubin Mehta is on the podium, he is unquestionably in command. i i i s i ! once a As a musical interpreter, Mehta has an unerring instinct for the spirit of a work, its overall form and the scale of its con­ ception. Added to this is his sensitivity to musical line — his feeling for musical phrases, their inter-connections,' and the relative stress to be placed on their com­ ponent notes. As one critic remarked, “He has a way of displaying the texture of a score as a jeweller displays the facets of a diamond.” 9? con- in memory His assets as a musician include his un ­ failing sense of rhythm, his ear for orchestral balance and colour, his flair for making Qiusic exciting. Someone said, “One may not always agree with Mehta performance, but it is impossible to be bored by one. When this is said, there is still a certain ' inexplicable quality about Mehta ’s ducting. Winthrop Sargeant, writing in The New Yorker, puts it this way: “The secret ingredient, probably unknow to Mr. Mehta himself, is a sort of magic that imbues every performance with urgency and power. ” This is not to suggest that Mehta has Mehta’s phenomenal musical memory *'®ceived nothing but undiluted praise. The is one of the first factors that drew the arbiters of musical taste have attention of his professional colleagues — again taken him to task, usually he has conducted the longest and most stress the need for greater discij^ine. difficult works entirely from memory. frequent grounds for “There’s so much to control,” he says, “so criticism is his choice of faster-than-usual many things happen on the spur of the He has been accused of “orchest- moment. That’s why I conduct wifh^yt a ^^1 exhibitionism ” and of “confusing score. I don’t have to look down two minutes to see where I am.” Mehta is never content to follow tradi ­ tion for its own sake; he is always willing “^^sic critics, however' ral exhibitionism loudness with vigour and haste with excitement. ” -w ,5 a every The verdict of the vast majority of is that Mehta ’s to depart from strict literalness, to fake the faults of youth, faults that Chances with a new approach. He does not greater maturity will iron out. Winthrop always conduct the same work the same way. Once in a performance of Dvorak ’s Sargeant said: “He has the technical and _________ emotional equipment of a maestro. If it Symphony in D Minor, he completely spills over occasionally into super-enthu- Changed his tactics at concert time. Later, siasm, it isn ’t bad. The equipment is there, asked why he had done so, he said he felt and one ounce of it is worth pounds of the orchestra had begun to take things finicky precision. 26 5»:jnc3rstanding, technical mastery and I musicians any additional qualities from the con- S' On the podium, Mehta stands with his 'jncsrstanding, twhuival ww feet apart, as if he were balancing on the imagination. But bringing 100 musicians deck of a ship. Unlike some of the tower- to the point of playing as one demands ing conductors of the past, he is a rather many additional qualities from the con- stocky man of medium height. He is an ductor. At any given moment, he may be --------------------------- _____________________ ___ vv j-rikj J KZJXWXWCjlkJUy UHilWV DllVZ W llidll HCtOT innate sense of drama communicates itself father-confessor, advocate, and disciplin- J__________ arian, while running the gamut of emo ­ tions from gentle persuader to arrogant dictator. extremely theatrical conductor and his a psychologist, athlete, showman, to orchestra and audience alike. Mehta ’s statement, of course, is a face ­ tious understatement of the qualities re ­ quired by the conductor of a modern ____ ____________ symphony orchestra. Actually, the disci- has to meet is posed by the musicians pline and concentration demanded from whom he leads. These are the men who a conductor^are taxing for all of his injel- make the music, and for them all that matters is the degree of a conductor ’s musicianship. On these grounds, Mehta is secure. Perhaps the severest test any conductor I ¥ pline and concentration demanded from whom he leads. These are the men who lectual, creative and physical powers. Few re- men of average intelligence and normal stamina become successful conductors. The leader of an orchestra must be in ­ timately acquainted with every note quired of every instrument in a given mu ­ sical selection — a staggering feat when one selection may run from twenty minu ­ tes to two hours in length and contain parts for more than two dozen instruments of the orchestra. Even while the orchestra is playing at full volume and at great speed, a compe ­ tent conductor can detect a false note played by a musician hidden in the back row :— an offence which, depending on the temperament of the conductor, may bring down his monumental wrath on the dibber. Arturo Toscanini, considered by manyyto he the.greatest conductor of the twentieth century, was famous for his ability to swear for twenty minutes with ­ out repeating a single word whenever he discovered a wrong note. Creative power is one quality which modern and controversial, separates the great conductor from the competent one. While a composer writes cates tempo, phrasing and nuances, there regular season in the city, interpretation. In effect, the conductor is of the Hollywood Bowl, and appearances playing an instrument — an instrument in several Southern California communi ­ containing more than 100 individuals — ties. Started in 1919, the orchestra is sup- and he may play that instrument well or ported by the Southern California Sym- poorly depending on his own skill, taste, phony-Hollywood Bowl Association. When the offer from the Los Angeles Philharmonic came in 1962, Mehta at first hesitated because he was already con ­ ductor of the Montreal Symphony and he was afraid the dual responsibility would be too much. “What actually made me- decide, ” he recalls, “was that the men of the orchestra asked me to accept the posi- tioii. It would be very difficult to turn one ’s back on the respect of one hundred colleagues. ” This respect and confidence has paid off more than anyone could ever have ima ­ gined: the Los Angeles Philharmonic is today generally considered one of the six best orchestras in America, and indeed one of the finest in the world. Since taking charge, Mehta has increased the size of the orchestra to 105 musicians. He has greatly expanded its repertoire, balancing the traditional and accepted with the . i The Los Angeles Philharmonic gives specific notes in specific places, and indi- approximately 150 concerts a year — its -------J, —d------- - xwB-l-x .............. ixx vhv. a nine-week remains wide latitude for the conductor ’s summer season in the huge amphitheatre 7 " " T---------------------------------................ ~ _ d ______ _j playing an instrument — an instrument in several Southern California communi ­} 't In Los Angeles, the Pliilharmfiie hp- 5?“''^“’ ne* Dorothy Chaii- lainer s d, Withoi^ Mehra, the pavilion would muric frCxm be just another building. ” Actually, the pavilion is in danger .of becoming nal temple to the Ushers wear red silk sherwanis and brown Gandhi caps, but Mehta insists, “I had a perso- young conductor. .. was born to the baton. In Bombay he recalls , J brainwashed with classieai music frcm the cradle. ” He adds “I became acqua nted with the Beethoven quartets. Wore I ever heard a symphony and could sing all the music before T could read a note. At seven he began studying the violin &' piano, and at sixteen he started conducting concerto accompaniments for his father. Bet ore he was twenty he became accust ­ omed to being left in charge of the Bom- brainwashed with classieai ! “I >5 music before I nothing to do with it. The kind of personality cult that is growing up around Mehta provides ano ­ ther focus for attack. His detractors say ‘6^ciiesua ” wto ilTS; kittenishly about his “brutal charm ” The away on tour. I always had the inten- facUhat/he h,s .tel children) and divorced probablv adds to k ^wanted tpi^ye a his appeal. Even reviewers S uMble eak to ®PP- to comment on his music without referring plLed the Sano have to him as “handsome, ” “vibrant, ” and “hot-eyed. ” Tjie women of Los Angeles have ac- , ----- - corded Mehta matinee-idol status. After “Every time I sat down to write concerts, it is said, they cluster around the pavilion ’s stage-door calling him names like “Zuby baby ” and “Sabu. ” He times impatiently. He once told a group At /»• ut of women to stop treating conductors like t Vienna and bar-tenders just because they wear bow- Academy of music, taking ties. courses m conducting, composition, piano • . , string bass, while playing the violin As in the case of other celebrities, the various orchestras in the city. At legend surrounding Mehta grows st^dily. twenty-one, he graduated with a diploma Ur^ story has it that after a Leningrad i?. t^t)nducting, indelibly marked with ti^ audience gave him the slow rhythmic Viennese approach to music j^d^i^'Mress applause of Soviet approval, he marched -on'warmth, expansiveftess and sensuous onstage in an exaggerated goosestep. - Later, at the stage door, he shouted into a crowd of well-wishers: “Revolt ! Widespread public adulation has bably not hurt Mehta ’s c__ 1^ ‘hat he is what the and all his effort is directed towards en ­ larging and perfecting the conductor ’s art. 99 pavilion ’s stage-door' calling him plays up to them' galla'ntly, though times impatiently. He once told a ot women to stop treating conductors like At one stage Mehta decided to become a doctor, but the plan was soon abando- —J an exam or cut up a dogfish, ” he confesses, pet “there I was with a some- a group Brahms symphony running through my head. ” When he first flashed across the musical scene, Zubin Mehta was hailed as “the pro- boy wonder from Bombay. ” Today he is career, but it considered by many critics to be the best generation of conductors. But it is world has been waiting for —“the next 99 and all his effort is directed towards He may turn out “the next Toscanini. ” 28 en- Toscanini. Courtesy SPAN? ¦ L HF i '-H s^ u Mehli Mehta chatting with members of his American Youth Symphony Orchestra —C aliform a <MW-frinpnjloriOii,iiiiu. i.jBii I y 1 / 7 f I” W IB L-'-il X*fe’ Mehli Mehta in Cordial home atmosphere with his wife Tehmi. Courtesy SPAN