Molding musicians

In their efforts to create and foster an awareness of Western classical music in Bombay the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation will now have an enduring base with the inauguration of the new premises on October 13, 2001. Situated on the first floor of Banoo Mansions at Kemps Corner, the spacious, well designed premises are meant to accommodate the Foundation’s office, records, music library, teaching and rehearsal studio, and accommodation for visiting teachers and artistes, explains trustee Mehroo Jeejeebhoy.

"My family is extremely honored. My father was tireless in promoting Western music in Bombay. He had so many pupils, he left a legacy that has led a force,” world-famous music conductor Zubin Mehta who had specially come down to Bombay was quoted in The Indian Express of October 15, 2001. Wishing that his 92-year-old father Mehli could have been present, Mehta commented, "Of course, we know that Western music is not in everyone’s heart, so we’re not pretending as if this is going to open the doors to the world. But for those few who are interested in it, at least there will now be a place where they can pursue their music. Hopefully it will grow. My involvement, of course, will be from a distance.”

The father and son duo: Mehli (left) and Zubin Mehta

"Music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) since 1969, Zubin Mehta is amongst the most internationally acclaimed orchestral and operatic conductors of our age,” notes a press release from the Foundation. Born in Bombay and trained in Vienna, he began his career in London. He first appeared in Israel with the IPO when both he and the Orchestra were 25 years old. A wing of the musicology department of the Hebrew University is named after him and his father, according to a profile of the internationally distinguished maestro who has also directed the Montreal Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philhar­monic, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and is since 1998 the general music director of the Bavarian State Opera.

The spacious premises of the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation

Among the regular activities of the Foundation is the Sangat music festival held conjointly with The Time and Talents Club Music and Arts Committee which is "a unique platform that brings together a group of highly talented young musicians of Indian origin who work abroad with other invited foreign musicians, local music students and professionals,” mentions a com-muniqué from the Foundation. At the last annual festival held in Bombay from December 17 to 21, two concerts and workshops were exclusively for children who Jee­jeebhoy finds are so spontaneous and capable. But whilst so many in Bombay wanted to witness Zubin Mehta playing with the IPO in the grand Jamshed Bhabha Opera House in October, there is not the same enthusiasm throughout the year. Recently Jeejeebhoy started The American Friends of the Bombay Sangat Music Festival to get donations to support this annual meet. An accomplished pianist who has played solo as also accompanied many local and visiting artistes, Jeejeebhoy started her musical training in Poona and then proceeded to the Trinity College of Music, London where she was the recipient of scholarships from the Royal Overseas League and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

The Foundation’s weekly meetings are held at the new premises but since funds are in short supply, managing the premises is a one-man job, she adds. Besides Jeejeebhoy, others associated with the Foundation are chairman Nani Palkhivala, Zubin and brother Zarin Mehta on the advisory council, and co-trustees Shyam Benegal, Zareen Bili­moria, Iqbal Chagla, Mehli Mistri and Rashmi Poddar.

Simin J. Patel