A special award for a special man
Zubin Mehta, who was the Music Director for the Israeli Philharmonic for 50 years, was awarded Australia’s highest honour, the AC, by General Governor David Hurley following Mehta’s amazing concert conducting the Australian World Orchestra.
Zubin Mehta, Governor General David Hurley, and Andrwe Briger at the award ceremony Photo: Prudence Upton
The packed Sydney Opera House audience was still rapturously applauding Mehta and the orchestra when the Governor-General made his entrance to the stage and personally placed the medal over the conductor’s head. Sporting his new honour, Zubin Mehta humbly thanks the Governor-General for the award.
As J-wire does on all such awards, here is the citation:
APPOINTED AN HONORARY COMPANION (AC)
IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ODER OF AUSTRALIA
Maestro Zubin MEHTA, United States of America
For eminent service to the Australia-India bilateral relationship and humanity-at-large, particularly in the fields of classical music and philanthropy.
With a career that has spanned more than five decades, Maestro Zubin Mehta is one of the world’s most celebrated and respected conductors. His career highlights, including Artistic Director of a number of the world’s most famous and eminent orchestras, are only matched by his tireless philanthropic work, particularly in the field of educating children in western classical music.
Since 1966, Maestro Mehta undertook at least three cross country tours through Australia as Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held for 50 years.
Maestro Mehta’s deep connection with Australia came into special focus in 2013, when he served as the first international guest conductor of the Australian World Orchestra (AWO). By gathering Australian orchestral professionals who have won key appointments in leading orchestras worldwide, the AWO is a unique organisation and an extraordinary expression of Australian musical talent and energy.
Maestro Mehta has given the AWO heightened international profile in his Australian concerts in Melbourne and Sydney in 2013 and a subsequent three-city tour in India in 2015. He will add to this contribution in August 2022, leading the AWO in international performances in Edinburgh and London as well as Melbourne and Sydney.
Maestro Mehta’s contributions to furthering intercultural understanding has been remarkable, including orchestral concerts to create unification, often following conflict or tragedy. In 2013, these contributions were also recognised with an honorary doctorate from the University of Melbourne.
His international career brings enormous musical inspiration to audiences and musicians worldwide. His contributions to intercultural understanding and education and his service to the profile and development of the AWO has cultivated a unique cultural ambassadorship between Australia and India. Maestro Zubin Mehta is thoroughly worthy of formal national recognition as an Honorary Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC).
The concert was the last of four performances this month by the Australian World Orchestra conducted by Maestro Mehta, which have taken place at the Edinburgh Festival, and the BBC Proms as part of the UK/Australia Season, and at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall and The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Australian World Orchestra Artistic Director Alexander Briger said, “We are delighted with this much deserved recognition for one of the world’s finest conductors who throughout his life continues to use the power of music to create unification. Maestro Zubin Mehta first came to the Australian World Orchestra in 2013 and the orchestra has been enriched by his musical brilliance and vision ever since, in performances in Australia, India and in the UK.
