Zubin Mehta rues concert and cricket clash

MUMBAI: Forget India versus Pakistan, there's another clash that will be causing tension for Zubin Mehta as he conducts at the NCPA tonight: Tchaikovsky versus Tendulkar. At a press conference in the city, ahead of his show tonight, the conductor bemoaned that for him it's "a tragedy" that his concert coincides with cricket.
"I wish I could have a screen behind the orchestra to watch it.It could be on mute - we don't need the commentary. Actually the match would suit Mahler's First Symphony very well," he says. As a small recompense, the conductor will be receiving regular updates on the match throughout the performance at the NCPA, he reveals.
Fortunately, the Italian Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino - whom he is conducting - is less interested in cricket, so they won't be so distracted. "Thank God it's not football," Mehta jokes. But while he's anxious to watch the match, Mehta is confident of the outcome. "Of course India is going to win, I know it," he says without hesitation. "Pakistan deserves to win, though, because it's such a godforsaken country I feel so sorry for it - if they won, it would be a good morale drive. If they were playing against anyone else, I'd want Pakistan to win."
It remains to be seen how many empty seats there are this evening at the sold out concert. "I hope all the sponsors turn up as they took so many free tickets," Mehta adds. The conductor reveals he had written personally to the chief minister asking for his support to battle the entertainment tax problem, but is yet to receive a reply. Meanwhile, the CM's office confirmed his presence at the NCPA on Thursday night. "Is that his reply to my message?" Mehta laughs, adding, "I hope we can inspire the minister in retrospect to give back the money from the taxes."
Meanwhile, for those who put classical over cricket, there are great rewards at the NCPA. Acclaimed violinist Arabella Steinbacher will accompany the orchestra in music from Verdi, Tchaikovsky and Mahler. The orchestra plays again on Thursday night, this time with tenor Fabio Sartori in a programme including arias from Verdi and Puccini. "The pieces have so many styles, but thankfully the orchestra is at home with all of them and I'm proud to be here with them," says Mehta.
(Zubin Mehta and the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will peform at the NCPA on Wednesday and Thursday, 7 pm)