Joint concert from Israel with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Zubin Mehta

In 1990, the Berliner Philharmoniker performed in Israel for the first time. After six acclaimed concerts under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, the tour came to a memorable conclusion in Tel Aviv with a joint performance with colleagues from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Both the programme and the instrumentation of the individual pieces were of particular interest and significance: the two orchestras began with a joint performance of the second movement from the First Symphony by Paul Ben Haim, who was born in Germany and emigrated to Palestine in 1933, fleeing from the Nazi regime. The orchestral unison with which the work begins may be understood on this occasion as symbolic. This was followed by the solo performances by two young musicians who were at the beginning of a global career: Munich-born violinist Viviane Hagner was accompanied by the Israeli orchestra and clarinettist Sharon Kam from Haifa by the German orchestra. In the second part of the concert – which came to an acclaimed conclusion with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – the musicians then reunited to form a single ensemble.

The concert was conducted by Zubin Mehta who has a special relationship with both orchestras: the Berliner Philharmoniker appointed him an honorary member in 2019, and Mehta served as music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra for 42 years. His farewell tour from this position also brought him to the Philharmonie Berlin in 2019.

Berliner Philharmoniker

Zubin Mehta

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

Viviane Hagner

Sharon Kam