Zubin braves quake to perform in Japan, but red tape stops him in India

MUMBAI: An 8.9 magnitude earthquake wasn’t enough to stop Zubin Mehta from performing two concerts in Japan — after all the show must go on. But when it comes to Mumbai, there are forces more intimidating than the threat of tremors and power cuts that could keep the conductor away. Although the Mumbai-born maestro has two concerts at the NCPA this coming week, the future of performances in his hometown lies in jeopardy.
‘‘I don’t know if I’ll be back again,’’ he told TOI over the phone from Taiwan. ‘‘The government makes it so difficult to put on a concert with its tax demands. If we give in to all the demands, we’ll not make any money to give to charity.’’
Four weeks ago, the Bombay High Court refused the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation’s plea not to waive the steep entertainment tax for Mehta’s concerts. In the past, profits earned from his concerts in Mumbai have been a great form of support for the Foundation, which seeks to promote classical music education in the city.
It had argued the amount earned from these two concerts would be used for its charitable activities. ‘‘Taxes for popular rock ‘n’ roll concerts in stadiums makes more sense because they make a clear profit,’’ says Mehta. ‘‘But we have just 1,200 people in the audience and sponsors who all ask for free tickets there’s no logic. It’s very aggravating and frustrating.’’
The future is at least safe for next week as Mehta plans to go ahead with two concerts at the NCPA with the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, with whom he has been principal conductor since 1985. ‘‘The orchestra has been touring this year in China, Taiwan and Japan until the earthquake hit. I was on the 20th floor of a hotel when it struck,’’ says Mehta. ‘‘We were shook up but there was no damage. The orchestra was in rehearsal, but after the earthquake the cellphones were down, there were no subways or buses. They walked four hours back to the hotel.’’
Despite the earthquake (on a Friday), the orchestra played its first concert Tosca on Saturday night, and another to a full house on Monday. ‘‘Then we had to stop because there were power shortages and blackouts and fears about the reactor, says Mehta. We cancelled six performances.’’
Now Mehta is looking forward to playing to a Mumbai audience whom he says is always very enthusiastic. ‘‘When I come to Mumbai, it always feels like I’m coming back home. It always feels as if I never left,’’ says Mehta, who left the country 57 years ago.