Quotes by Zubin Mehta

About Zubin Mehta:

Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of Western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Main Conductor for Valencia's opera house. Mehta is also the chief conductor of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

As soon as, say, Saddam Hussein started bombing Israel with Scuds, everyone was like, 'Poor Israel.' But when Israel retaliates - and most of the time they then win - people turn against them.

Zubin Mehta

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

Zubin Mehta

New York for a long time was a kind of conductor's graveyard.

Zubin Mehta

Most Arab Israelis speak Hebrew, but not the other way around. It's about time that changed.

Zubin Mehta

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

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

I love rap because it talks about pain that comes authentically from the ghetto. It moves me.

Zubin Mehta

I love to conduct opera.

Zubin Mehta

I love the creativity of New York, but I don't enjoy the city - I don't like living here.

Zubin Mehta

Citizens of India, Pakistan, and Kashmir need to come together and make music.

Zubin Mehta

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

Zubin Mehta

In Bombay, we have a fine concert hall. I think it is high time we built venues in Delhi and Calcutta, not only for western music, but also Indian music. It doesn't matter which party is in power; don't you think the capital of India should have a co...

Zubin Mehta

Even in music concerts in Mumbai and different parts of the world, seats are reserved for sponsors.

Zubin Mehta

It's hard to find an emblem of cultural, national pride that burns as bright as Israel's success in classical music.

Zubin Mehta

We are so indebted to our ancestors, musically speaking, that they have left us 400 years of music.

Zubin Mehta

My parents had chosen the medical profession for me. I even studied a few semesters at St Xavier's College, but at the back of my mind, I always wanted to be a musician like my father.

Zubin Mehta

In truth, I became a conductor because deep down I wanted to conduct Brahms's four symphonies and Richard Strauss's tone poems.

Zubin Mehta

Just imagine, the thousands and thousands of concerts that take place every single day, all over the world. And the positive effect that they would have on the people listening. Now imagine a world without this. This void... it is unthinkable.

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

I'm very much tied to the state of Israel, but I am against their policy of settlements in Palestine.

Zubin Mehta

I have had bullets flying at concerts, but I don't want to talk about that.

Zubin Mehta

Author Bio

  • NameZubin Mehta
  • DescriptionIndian conductor
  • BornApril 29, 1936
  • CountryIndia
  • ProfessionConductor
  • AwardsIsrael Prize; Bavarian Order Of Merit; Grand Merit Cross Of The Order Of Merit Of The Federal Republic Of Germany; Padma Vibhushan; Gold Decoration For Services To The City Of Vienna; Israel Prize; Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen Für Verdienste Um Die Republik Österreich; Padma Bhushan; Praemium Imperiale