Zubin Mehta, one of the world’s most famous conductors has accepted the invitation to be the honorary chairman of the George Enescu International Festival in 2017.

“I can’t wait to come bank to Romania, you have the most beautiful festival in the world and the most wonderful audience. Each musician feels so good here when looking to the audience and seeing the people’s smiles,” Zubin Mehta said. “I have accepted this proposal because it was one I couldn’t refuse,” he added.

During the talks, he analyzed the artistic program draft for the 2017 edition of the festival, together with the festival’s future artistic director, and approved it.

Mehta conducted one of this year’s festival’s most highly anticipated concerts, on Monday, that of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He came to Romania for the concert despite a recent knee intervention.

Zubin Mehta has been leading the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 1981 and was the first to bring together on stage the world’s three great tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras. His first appearance at the George Enescu Festival was in 1964.

Other internationally acclaimed maestro’s, such as Lord Yehudi Menuhin and conductor Lawrence Foster, have been honorary chairmen of the George Enescu Festival’s previous editions.

Romania’s 2015 George Enescu Festival brings 22 days of classical music, thousands of artists

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo by Andrei Gandac, George Enescu Festival)