Perlman cancels Zubin’s last farewell

Perlman cancels Zubin’s last farewell

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norman lebrecht

October 15, 2019

The Israel Philharmonic has sent an ‘important notice’ to subscribers, informing them that old pal Itzhak Perlman has pulled out of its very last concert this weekend with the retiring music director Zubin Mehta.

No reason specified.

Yefim Bronfman jumps in.

Comments

  • Yay for Fima. Who could ask for anything more

    • Esther Cavett says:

      I thought Mehta had retired from IPO. What was Perlman supposed to have played ?

    • V.Lind says:

      I could — every time I have been to a Bronfman concert he has bashed the keys to the point of eliminating all the musicality I feel sure he is capable of. He is off my visiting list.

      And I would consider him a feeble sub for Perlman. But rather than another violinist it looks as if they went for a member of the gang.

      Perlman should have offered a reason whether true or false. Looks bad.

  • Mark says:

    Hopefully, nothing is wrong with Perlman’s health !

  • Dan says:

    One is a violinist, the other, a pianist. How can Mr. Bronfman jump in?

    • Bill says:

      Beethoven violin concerto also exists in a piano concerto form, so a program featuring that could go on without change, if the piano soloist knew it. But the IPO (and Mehta) could probably handle switching to a different concerto without much difficulty, as most orchestras play a different concerto every week, with little need for rehearsal. The soloist usually doesn’t show up prior to the dress rehearsal. Both the original choice and the replacement will be works orchestra, conductor, and soloist have all done countless times, though perhaps this might be the first time they have done it together.

    • Jack says:

      I think the orchestra is pretty good at sight-reading. (cue laughter).

  • Zalman says:

    He must have got a good reason.

  • Esther Cavett says:

    Perlman plays almost exclusively in US and hates travelling more than ever. Plus he’s 74 and his wife (who has had a couple of sets of cancer treatment) is a bit older.

    BTW: the program was originally billed as

    Beethoven: Romance no. 1 in G major
    Beethoven: Romance no. 2 in F major
    Kreisler: Liebesleid
    John Williams: Theme music from Schindler’s List
    Kreisler: Liebesfreud
    Mahler: Symphony no. 2 (“Resurrection”)

  • Pervez says:

    Zubin Mehta is a excellent musician and even God’s dance at his music in heaven.

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