A biography for Zubin Mehtahasn’t been written yet.
“I'm very much tied to the state of Israel, but I am against their policy of settlements in Palestine.”
“Even in music concerts in Mumbai and different parts of the world, seats are reserved for sponsors.”
“I love India.”
“I am an Indian, so I do yoga.”
“I endeavor that all orchestras I conduct sound Central European.”
“An American orchestra doesn't want to play more than it has to. I respectfully disagree with that attitude.”
“I am often critical of Israel's policies when in the country, but then feel defensive of them when overseas.”
“As long as they keep building settlements, the world will be anti-Israeli.”
“I sometimes feel it is to my disadvantage that I have not conducted the Cleveland Orchestra or the Boston or Chicago symphonies, but then I have had to sacrifice something in order to have enough time with my orchestras.”
“Just imagine, the thousands and thousands of concerts that take place every single day, all over the world. And the positive effect that they would have on the people listening. Now imagine a world without this. This void... it is unthinkable.”
“We are so indebted to our ancestors, musically speaking, that they have left us 400 years of music.”
“As soon as, say, Saddam Hussein started bombing Israel with Scuds, everyone was like, 'Poor Israel.' But when Israel retaliates - and most of the time they then win - people turn against them.”
“There are people who think I am Israeli. That's rubbish.”
“In Chicago, they die for their teams.”
“After conducting Wagner, Beethoven's triple concerto is like taking an Alka Seltzer.”
“Why does Israel always have to suffer for others to feel bad for it?”
“Though there is such a rich tradition of culture and arts, I have never been invited to perform at a concert in South India.”
“There was an opinion expressed in the newspapers that, after 20 years, maybe the Israel Philharmonic should consider asking me to leave. I thought they might have a point, so I asked my orchestra. They told me overwhelmingly that they wanted me to stay.”
“Bruckner's Eighth is a colossus.”
“I just want to play for Hindus and Muslims that sit together. That's all I want to do.”