The Chicago Times“Thanks to its committed strings and alert woodwinds, the Israel Phil has managed to retain quite a bit of its old distinctive character, unlike so many of today’s globalized orchestras. Mozart and Schubert were recognizable, of course, but just different enough from the American variety to fall freshly on the ear.”
Chicago Classical Review“Mehta conducted without a score, leading a powerful, often outstanding performance of Bruckner’s vast work. The opening movement had tremendous drive with climaxes pointed with implacable force, Mehta relaxing into the lyrical second subject with notably rich and expansive string playing. The pile-driving Scherzo went with strong impact, the rustic charm of the lightly scored trio neatly contrasted…Despite the extended cheers and ovations, Mehta offered no encore, wisely letting Bruckner’s music and the Israel Philharmonic’s powerful and eloquent performance speak for itself.”
South Florida Classical Review“While most visiting orchestras consistently program symphonic warhorses for their South Florida appearances, the Israel Philharmonic opted for less frequently performed symphonies by Schubert and Bruckner at its performance Wednesday night at the Arsht Center… The Symphony No. 7 in E minor may be Anton Bruckner’s most popular work, but any Bruckner performance in Miami is an event. After decades of playing Bruckner symphonies under Mehta, the Israel Philharmonic is a true Bruckner orchestra with the corporate weight and sonorous luster to alight these large scale symphonic cathedrals.”
Los Angeles Times“On Monday the conductor and the orchestra were on their game. Mehta…is more economical with his gestures, but his beat remains as crisp as ever and his left-hand cues graceful and welcoming…The result was a superb, at times mighty Schubert Ninth, the power of a big orchestra juxtaposed with the intimacy of communing winds.”
San Francisco Chronicle“And the Israelis, led by lifetime Music Director Zubin Mehta, played with enormous subtlety and tact, giving the most nuanced and elegant performance I can remember hearing from this orchestra in many years…The Israelis…treated Mahler’s music with a wide swath of knowing irony – even in the first movement, a funeral march that would seem ill-suited to such an approach. The opening trumpet call, so often delivered as a peremptory call to attention, emerged here with a sardonic casualness – as if to say, ‘This is serious stuff, but perhaps not as serious as some might have you believe.’ That attitude ran through the rest of the performance, with a wit that never undercut the music’s genuine eloquence. In the Scherzo, the orchestra caught both the lilting beauty of Mahler’s writing and the faint air of parody that suffuses the movement.”
The Seattle Times“Zubin Mehta, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his association with the 75-year old orchestra, led a performance of high drama, propelled by lithe rhythms, wide dynamic extremes, lustrously sumptuous tone (especially from the strings), and some fine flute solos.”
The Israel Philharmonic is one of Israel’s oldest and most influential cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic has dedicated itself to presenting the world’s greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world. Founded by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic represents the fulfillment of his dream “to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country.” Huberman spent countless hours persuading first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras, who had lost their jobs as a result of Nazism, to immigrate to Palestine. In doing so, Huberman created an “orchestra of soloists” which continues to act as a dynamic, global community for musicians from across the world. Huberman invited the greatest conductor of the time, Arturo Toscanini, to conduct the opening concert, performed at the Levant Fair in Tel Aviv on 26 December 1936
Major soloists and conductors have always performed with the Israel Philharmonic. Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Leonidas Kavakos, Itzhak Perlman, Kirill Petrenko, Gil Shaham, Sir András Schiff and Pinchas Zukerman, among many others, are regular guests of the orchestra. Leonard Bernstein maintained close ties with the orchestra from 1947. The memory of him conducting the Orchestra in front of 5,000 soldiers on the Negev dunes after the battle for Beersheba is an historic moment. In 1988, the IPO bestowed on him the title of Laureate Conductor, which he retained until his death in 1990. Yoel Levi and Gianandrea Noseda served as Principal Guest Conductors.
The Israel Philharmonic is Israel’s premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation. On December 2022, The Israel Philharmonic performed a historic concert in Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Culture, celebrating the Abraham Accords. Other historical visits include the orchestra’s first tour to Russia in April 1990 and the first tour to India in December 1960. The orchestra performs in the most important venues and festivals in Europe, the USA, South America, China, and Japan.
The Orchestra gives more than 100 performances each year in Israel, where concert series are presented in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. The IPO KeyNote Education and Outreach Program bring classical music to young audience.
In 1969 Maestro Zubin Mehta was appointed Music Advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became its Music Director. Maestro Mehta retired in October 2019 and following his retirement, the IPO has named him Music Director Emeritus. Lahav Shani became Music Director in the 2020-21 season.
