Promoting peace through music

2019 marks an end of an era for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as their maestro Zubin Mehta steps down as artistic director of the orchestra this year. For this, his final tour, an exciting program awaits filled with the likes of Beethoven and Schubert.

Formed in 1936 as the Palestine Orchestra by violinist Bronislaw Huberman, this came at a time when many Jewish musicians were being ejected from European orchestras. Its inaugural performance took place in Tel Aviv in December 1936, with its first principal conductor William Steinberg taking up the baton after Arturo Toscanini.