The Hindu : National : Zubin Mehta melody mesmerises Delhi

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Thursday, Dec 29, 2005

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National

Zubin Mehta melody mesmerises Delhi

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

His concert at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium attracted some 10,000 music lovers

Zubin Mehta and The Bavarian State Orchestra performing at the Indira Gandhi Indore Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: Rajeev

NEW DELHI: Zubin Mehta left Delhiites mesmerised as he conducted the Bavarian State Orchestra before an elite audience at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.

Taking the stage with 85 musicians, the Mumbai-born Mehta showed why he has been honoured the world over. Even before he got down to conducting Giuseppe Verdi's `The Force of Destiny' overture, Franz Schubert's symphony `The Unfinished' and Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony , the maestro made his mark.

Fresh from a visit to Agra, the conductor and the orchestra gelled well, and music flowed effortlessly.

Soulful rendition

Most in the audience were overwhelmed by the soulful rendition of the National Anthem and the German national anthem.

In the stadium packed with some 10,000 music lovers, the Verdi overture started off well. Mehta took only a few seconds off before returning for Schubert's unfinished masterpiece. The composition, which was sent by Schubert to the Styrian Music Society in Graz and was described by him as "one of my symphonies," had Mehta completely engrossed. He continued unfazed even when the baton slipped from his fingers.

The grand finale

The finale was provided by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. While all three compositions expressed some struggle and the triumph of the human spirit in times of adversity, the almost martial tunes of Beethoven struck an instant cord with the audience.

The finesse of the rendition found ample support in some very professional camera work through which the conductor and the orchestra were shown on two giant screens put up on either side of the stage. The close-ups of nimble fingers straining at the strings of various instruments and of the musicians following the notes and the conductor added to the overall experience.

A thunderous applause from the appreciative audience preceded and followed every composition, and Mehta appeared to enjoy every bit of it. With people asking for more, he even obliged with an encore. In the end, he thanked all for their support.

Tribute to Ravi Shankar

A special mention was reserved for sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, who was seated in the front row along with Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

"I pay my tributes to my dearest friend and the greatest musician of India, Ravi Shankar. It has been a long time since we made music together. I will never forget the last time we worked together," he said.

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