Conductor shares power of music with the world, starting in Beijing

Legendary conductor Zubin Mehta, at the remarkable age of 89, is currently leading the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on a tour in China, bringing a rich, emotional experience to classical music lovers.

On Tuesday evening, he conducted a concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, featuring two monumental works — Beethoven's Symphony No 6 in F Major, Op 68, Pastoral, and Franz Schubert's Symphony No 9 in C Major, D 944, The Great.

On Wednesday, the conductor and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra staged another concert at the NCPA, featuring pieces including Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 4 in F Minor, Op 36, and Sibelius's Violin Concerto, Op 47, which was joined by famed violinist Clara-Jumi Kang.

The two concerts kicked off the ongoing tour of Mehta and the orchestra, which will run until March 4, visiting three more cities — Suzhou in Jiangsu province, and Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong province.

"After discussions with the management of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim, we concluded that the repertoire for this tour is quite ample and diverse. It fits the virtuosity of these wonderful musicians and allows us to convey a broad spectrum of emotions, from the pastoral calm of Beethoven to the grandeur of Schubert's symphony. It's about showing the range of the orchestra's talent and evoking deep emotional responses from the audience," Mehta says.

"My love for coming to China is endless. I have performed here many times, and I always find the audience here incredibly receptive and passionate. After this tour, I look forward to continuing my performances in Europe and Asia, always seeking to share the power of music with the world," the conductor says.