Bringing its historic message of peace through music, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra joined by Music Director for Life Zubin Mehta returns to the United States in November 2015 for an eight-city tour.
Each year, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performs around the world as musical ambassadors, contributing to the global reputation of the State of Israel and promoting diplomacy. Concerts will take place in eight cities across the US, beginning with their return to Carnegie Hall on Thursday, November 5 with Maestro Zubin Mehta leading a benefit performance of Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 2 in C minor (“Resurrection”) with soprano Kristin Lewis, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and MasterVoices. The program for the remainder of the tour features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (“Eroica”), Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”), Ravel’s La valse, poème chorégraphique and contemporary Georgian composer Josef Bardanashvili’s A Journey to the End of the Millenium.
The American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) will present gala benefits in five of these cities (including New York), as they celebrate their 35th Anniversary financially supporting and broadening the Orchestra’s activities, educational outreach and artistic vision. AFIPO has been instrumental in developing KeyNote, the educational arm of the IPO, whose programs bring the joy of classical music to over 29,000 children in Israel each year. Since its founding, there has been a strong bond between the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and American supporters. The Orchestra’s first major fundraising gala was held in 1936 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, and was “chaired” by Albert Einstein.
Kirshbaum Associates Inc.
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ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
2015 U.S. TOUR
MUSIC DIRECTOR ZUBIN MEHTA BRINGS THE IPO TO EIGHT CITIES
ACROSS THE U.S.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CELEBRATES ITS 35th ANNIVERSARY
BENEFIT GALAS TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO,
SAN FRANCISCO AND CLEVELAND
June 24, 2015
Bringing its historic message of peace through music, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, joined by Music Director for Life Zubin Mehta, returns to the United States in November 2015 for an eight-city tour. Each year, the IPO performs around the world as cultural ambassadors, contributing to the global reputation of the State of Israel and promoting cultural diplomacy. Concerts will take place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas, Cleveland and Palm Desert, CA. The American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) will present gala benefits in five of these cities, as they celebrate their 35th Anniversary supporting and broadening the Orchestra’s activities and artistic vision.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra returns to Carnegie Hall on Thursday, November 5 with Maestro Zubin Mehta leading a benefit performance of Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 2 in C minor (“Resurrection”) with soprano Kristin Lewis, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and MasterVoices. The program for the tour features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (“Eroica”), Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”), Ravel’s La valse, poème chorégraphique and contemporary Georgian composer Josef Bardanashvili’s A Journey to the End of the Millenium [photo at left].
Since its founding, there has been a strong bond between the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and American supporters. The Orchestra’s first major fundraising gala was held in 1936 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, and was “chaired” by Albert Einstein. The non-profit organization American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) was created in 1980 to formalize and broaden the relationship between North America and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with continuing the tradition of giving. In addition to generating an endowment and increasing the reach of the Orchestra through financial support of national and international tours, AFIPO was also instrumental in developing KeyNote, the educational arm of the IPO. KeyNote programs bring the joy of classical music to over 29,000 children in Israel each year, while promoting tolerance and mutual respect. “Sulamot: Music for Social Change” is an innovative and inspirational education program, which focuses primarily on at-risk children with the least resources and greatest needs in peripheral areas and underprivileged communities in Israel. “Sulamot” was created as a joint program with the IPO and Tel Aviv University in 2010. AFIPO seeks to strengthen the reach of the IPO as the preeminent cultural ambassador for the State of Israel and expand the support of classical music and musical education in Israel.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is unique in its cultural diversity, with members of the Orchestra representing over 15 different nationalities. The 2012 documentary film Orchestra of Exiles by Oscar-nominated writer/director Josh Aronson illuminates the historical perspective of the IPO’s founding, focusing on Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman’s vision and resolve to save Jewish families from anti-Semitism and Nazism by bringing these immigrants together in a new, distinguished ensemble. These world-class musicians were born, raised and educated in 17 different countries across three continents. Furthermore, the IPO tours more regularly and in more countries than any other symphonic ensemble. On average, the Orchestra plays 30-40 concerts a year abroad. In short, the IPO is comprised of people from all over the world that come together to inspire people from all over the world.
About Maestro Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta was born in 1936 in Bombay and received his first musical education under his father’s Mehli Mehta’s guidance who was a noted concert violinist and the founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. After a short period of pre-medical studies in Bombay, he left for Vienna in 1954 where he eventually entered the conducting program under Hans Swarowsky at the Akademie für Musik. Zubin Mehta won the Liverpool International Conducting Competition in 1958 and was also a prize-winner of the summer academy at Tanglewood. By 1961 he had already conducted the Vienna, Berlin and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras and has recently celebrated 50 years of musical collaboration with all three ensembles.
Maestro Mehta was Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1961 to 1967 and also assumed the Music Directorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1962, a post he retained until 1978. In 1969 he was appointed Music Adviser to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and was made Music Director of that orchestra in 1977. In 1981 the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra awarded him the title of Music Director for life. Zubin Mehta has conducted over three thousand concerts with this extraordinary ensemble including tours spanning five continents. In 1978 he took over the post as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic commencing a tenure lasting 13 years, the longest in the orchestra’s history. Since 1985, he has been chief conductor of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence.
In 2006, Zubin Mehta was recognized for his extraordinary artistic achievements as a Kennedy Center Honoree. He was honored in October 2008 by the Japanese Imperial Family with the “Praemium Imperiale”. In 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and became recipient of the Furtwängler Prize at Bonn’s prestigious Beethovenfest for his “dedication both to music and social issues.” The Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was bestowed to him in July 2012. The Indian Government honored him in September 2013 with the “Tagore Award for cultural harmony” which a year earlier was awarded to Ravi Shankar.
Zubin Mehta continues to support the discovery and furtherance of musical talents all over the world through the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in Bombay and Tel Aviv.
About the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1936 as a haven for the oppressed Jewish virtuosi of Europe. Today, the Orchestra is recognized both nationally and internationally as an eminent musical institution and as Israel’s musical ambassador. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1936 by Bronislaw Huberman and its inaugural concert, on December 26, 1936, was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The orchestra strives to promote artists, composers, and young talents from Israel and abroad through its commissions and premieres and has hosted most of the world’s greatest conductors and soloists. With leaders such as Maestro Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Yoel Levi, and Gianandrea Noseda, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra plays a vital role in Israel’s musical and cultural development 79 years after its founding.
ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
2015 U.S. TOUR SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 7PM
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY
with Kristin Lewis, soprano and Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
MasterVoices
MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 in C minor
(AFIPO New York Benefit – click here for more information)
Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 7PM
Davies Symphony Hall
San Francisco, CA
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major
(AFIPO San Francisco Benefit – click here for more information)
Monday, November 9, 2015 at 7:30PM
McCallum Theater
Palm Desert, CA
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at time TBD
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Beverly Hills, CA
VIVALDI: Concerto for 3 Violins in F Major
with Dumitru Pocitari, Asaf Maoz, and Semion Gavrikov; violin
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor
(AFIPO Los Angeles Benefit – click here for more information)
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 8PM
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Beverly Hills, CA
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major
Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 8PM
Civic Theatre
San Diego, CA
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major
Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 7PM
Symphony Center
Chicago, IL
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major
(AFIPO Chicago Benefit – click here for more information)
Monday, November 16, 2015 at 8PM
Severance Hall
Cleveland, OH
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor
(AFIPO Cleveland Benefit – click here for more information)
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 8PM
Meyerson Symphony Center
Dallas, TX
BARDANASHVILI: A Journey to the End of the Millenium
RAVEL: La valse, poème chorégraphique
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor
