Image by Twitter/@rdamphil

By Talya Zax January 17, 2018

Zubin Mehta has been the musical leader of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra for four decades. In the next two years, The New York Times reports, he will cede his directorship of the Philharmonic to Lahav Shani, who has been alive for only three-quarters of that time.

Shani, 29, a pianist and conductor, made his first appearance as a soloist with the Philharmonic in 2007. Six years later, he conducted the debut concert of the Philharmonic’s 2013 season. (That same year, he won the coveted top prize at Germany’s Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition.) The Philharmonic is not the only orchestra of which Shani will shortly be taking charge: In September of this year he will become chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. In the current season, he also was named as the principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Mehta, 81, became the music director of the Philharmonic in 1977, after joining the orchestra as a musical adviser in 1969. In 1981, the Philharmonic appointed him as music director for life.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The announcement of Shani as Mehta’s successor comes just over a year after Mehta, in December 2016, announced plans to retire. Shani will become the Philharmonic’s music director designate in 2019, when Mehta will take his leave; Shani will assume full control of the Philharmonic the following year.

In a statement quoted by The Times, Philharmonic chairman Yoel Abadi said that Shani was chosen as Mehta’s successor after receiving the support of a significant majority of the Philharmonic’s musicians.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount