Zubin Mehta Quotes

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Zubin Mehta

Profession : Musician

Birth : April 29, 1936

I feel growing up in Mumbai is an advantage, as we grow up speaking so many languages that when we go abroad, it becomes easier to learn new languages.

Zubin Mehta

My parents had chosen the medical profession for me. I even studied a few semesters at St Xavier's College, but at the back of my mind, I always wanted to be a musician like my father.

Zubin Mehta

If North American musicians would only know how uncomfortable life is for European musicians.

Zubin Mehta

I always look at the work of fashion designers as if they were art.

Zubin Mehta

Go to the young conductors who are not making it, and you will hear how we shouldn't push ourselves or sell ourselves, how they don't have the right connections and the right opportunities. Well, you can be sure they've had the opportunities.

Zubin Mehta

I'm a Persian Jew, and we don't speak Hebrew.

Zubin Mehta

I'm a pucca Indian. Bombay is my home.

Zubin Mehta

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.

Zubin Mehta

I'm really not a party person. I'm in the business of working with 100 people every day, so I don't revel in meeting a roomful of people in my leisure time.

Zubin Mehta

After conducting Wagner, Beethoven's triple concerto is like taking an Alka Seltzer.

Zubin Mehta

The New York Philharmonic is a tremendous opportunity, a great orchestra.

Zubin Mehta

New York is really the place to be; to go to New York, you're going to the center of the world, the lion's den.

Zubin Mehta

I feel that the critic and music director should have such a good relationship they can pick up the phone and call each other any time.

Zubin Mehta

I've never said, 'I live for art.'

Zubin Mehta

I have a few homes, and Los Angeles is certainly one of them.

Zubin Mehta

I am often critical of Israel's policies when in the country, but then feel defensive of them when overseas.

Zubin Mehta

Why does Israel always have to suffer for others to feel bad for it?

Zubin Mehta

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.

Zubin Mehta

I am always hearing from Israelis, 'Oh, CNN is anti-Israel,' or 'BBC is against us.' But no, they are reporting facts.

Zubin Mehta

We are so indebted to our ancestors, musically speaking, that they have left us 400 years of music.

Zubin Mehta