Music for a cause

Zubin Mehta’s arrival in Bombay always strikes the right chords for lovers of western classical music. Whether he conducts the New York Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, or the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra from Italy as he did from April 8-10, 2005, his admirers are content to see him wield the baton.

Equally enthusiastic is Mehta in performing for the Indian audiences. The Bombay Times of April 7 quoted Mehta, "Coming home is always special. I try to return at least once in two or three years. There are friends whom I grew up with. There’s the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation (named after his legendary father under whose auspices he was giving three concerts, including one for the tsunami victims). My connection with Mumbai is very strong.”

"I just have to land here and memories of my childhood come flooding back. Those memories include going to St Mary’s School with good friend Ratan Tata — his company is sponsoring the string of concerts,” Mehta’s statement at a press conference on the eve of his performances was quoted in The Indian Express of April 8. Mehta further estimated, "Out of the 16 million people in Mumbai, there are 10,000 who love classical music.”

Mehta: "coming home is always special”

In early March The Indian Express carried an article titled, "Zubin Mehta tour held hostage by entertainment tax.” With the government insisting on a crippling entertainment tax of 25 percent which had to be paid in advance for a full house, includ­ing complimentary tickets, the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation applied for an exemption and was finally relieved when the con­cession was granted.

Besides the tsunami victims the proceeds of the shows were also meant to boost the funds of the Foundation which is endea­voring to set up a music school in Bombay in memory of Mehli. Mstislav Rostropovich, almost 80, regarded as the greatest living cellist today, had also specially flown in to Bombay because he was keen to play two concerts in memory of his old friend Mehli. When the visiting orchestra specially performed for school child­ren at the Ballroom of the Taj, Zubin was not performing but playing compere. As per his practice, a customary dinner at Colaba’s Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary was included in the itinerary this time too which the maestro, clad in a dagli, looked forward to.