Mehta, Zubin (1936- )

Indian-born US conductor. He specializes in robust, polished interpretations of 19th- and 20th-century repertoire, including contemporary US composers. He was music director of the Montréal Symphony 1961-67 and of the Los Angeles Philharmonic 1962-78, thus becoming the first person to direct two North American symphony orchestras simultaneously. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic 1978-91 and music director of the Bavarian State Opera, Munich, 1998-2003; since 1977 he has also been music director of the Israel Philharmonic.

His father, Mehli Mehta, helped found the Bombay Symphony and exposed his son to Western music from an early age. Zubin Mehta's fame spread rapidly when he toured with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the first orchestra that he conducted.