Maestro Zubin Mehta Conducts The Australian World Orchestra

Living legend, Maestro Zubin Mehta return to Australia to conduct the Australian World Orchestra in two unmissable and much anticipated performances at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on 31 August and the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 2 September.

Maestro Zubin Mehta is recognised as one of the world’s greatest Strauss interpreters, and for these concerts he will conduct the Australian World Orchestra in performances of three of Richard Strauss’s most famous tone poems – Don Juan, Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche and Ein Heldenleben. This repertoire is amongst the critical influences which shaped his career.

Announcing the concerts, AWO’s Artistic Director, Alexander Briger AO, said: “Following the recent challenges we are so delighted to be coming together as an orchestra once again led by one of the world’s most extraordinary conductors. Zubin has a deep connection with the AWO musicians, forged first here in Australia, and then when we toured India with him and embarked on a number of special programs throughout India with his Mehli Mehta Music Foundation. There is no better way to celebrate the joy of music making than for the Australian World Orchestra‘s wonderful musicians to be performing the Richard Strauss tone poems conducted by the world’s finest interpreter of Strauss.”

The Australian World Orchestra (AWO) is recognised as one of the most exciting initiatives in Australia’s cultural history. Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Alexander Briger AO, its mission is to bring together Australia’s finest classical musicians – from ensembles at home as well as all around the world – to create something uniquely electrifying. Touring within Australia and overseas has won the Orchestra an enviable reputation and established new audiences for classical music, while the AWO education program has helped foster the next generation of Australian musicians.

The AWO’s musicians are drawn from the world’s finest orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouw and Australia’s orchestras and ensembles. The immense talent, coupled with its grand, award-winning sound, has seen many of the world’s finest conductors including Sir Simon Rattle and Ricardo Muti lead the orchestra both in Australia and overseas. The Australian World Orchestra has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as charismatic, inspiring and one of a kind.

Melbourne concert: Wednesday 31 August • Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne