This year the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 75th anniversary. In the mid-1930s Polish violinist Bronisław Huberman tried to persuade Eastern European and German orchestral musicians who had lost their jobs due to Nazi policy to emigrate to Palestine so as to found a new orchestra there. The result was the Palestine Orchestra, which gave its inaugural concert on 26 December 1936 under Arturo Toscanini; with Israel’s independence in 1948 they changed their name to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). Today the IPO is the most important cultural ambassador of the State of Israel. For nearly a half-century the musicians enjoyed a close relationship with Leonard Bernstein, who conducted numerous concerts from the mid-1940s until his death in 1990, including the world premiere of his Kaddish Symphony in 1963; since 1988 he held the title of Laureate Conductor. With its first appearance in Germany, in 1970, the Israel Philharmonic made a decisive contribution to the normalization of relations between the two countries. Zubin Mehta, who made his debut with the IPO exactly fifty years ago, in 1961, was named Music Advisor in 1969 and Music Director in 1977; this tenure was confirmed for life in 1981. Kurt Masur has held the title of Honorary Guest Conductor since 1992; since the 2001-2 season Yoel Levi has held the position of Principal Guest Conductor. For its anniversary season the Israel Philharmonic is undertaking a major European tour in August and September 2011; the official birthday festivities will take place in December in Tel Aviv and promise to include such soloists as Daniel Barenboim, Yefim Bronfman, Evgeny Kissin, Murray Perahia, Gil Shaham, and Pinchas Zukerman.
LUCERNE FESTIVAL (IMF) debut on 2 September 1971 in works by Ami Ma'Ayani, Felix Mendelssohn, and Béla Bartók, conducted by Zubin Mehta.
August 2011