Maestro Zubin Mehta holds a deep friendship with the NCPA. He visited the NCPA when the latter had just opened. At that time, he conducted the 2008 New Year’s Concert at the Great Hall of the People. He came to meet Ozawa Seiji and formed ties with the NCPA. It’s 17 years since the opening of the NCPA, and Maestro Mehta has performed at the NCPA with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestra De La Comunitat Valenciana, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and China NCPA Orchestra. He also took part in the NCPA’s production of the opera Aida and has created numerous bright musical memories on stage. In late 2023, Mehta failed to join Aida because of illness, and that was much regretted by the Beijing audience. When answering a consolatory call from the NCPA, he said, “When I’m in good condition next year, I will definitely return to the NCPA no matter what a busy schedule I have then!” Mehta himself is also looking forward to celebrate a reunion with the NCPA and the Beijing audience. He will conduct the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in delivering virtuoso performances from June 21^st to 23^rd by joining hands with two rising stars from the international music scene - Pianist Vanessa Benelli Mosell and Violinist Amira Abouzahra.


Founded in 1928 by Vittorio Gui, the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino was initially named Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina. In its early days, the orchestra held concerts and performed in operas at the Florence Municipal Theatre . In 1933, the orchestra was renamed Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in response to the birth of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Riccardo Muti served as the chief conductor from the 1960s to the 1980s. Zubin Mehta took over the orchestra in 1985, and led it for over 32 years. Under his leadership, the orchestra grew into one of the world’s leading symphony orchestras. Now, Mehta is a Lifetime Honourary Director of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and has been proposed as the Cultural Ambassador of Florence. There is a recital hall exclusive to Zubin Mehta at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Recently, Mehta toured Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain and other places with the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under his baton.