Maestro returns with fiery baton

Tour of six cities marks lifelong bond between veteran conductor and the country, Chen Nan reports.

At the age of 89, Zubin Mehta has achieved more than most musicians could dream of in a lifetime. Yet the legendary conductor shows no sign of slowing down. His baton still moves with commanding grace, his eyes flash with that familiar intensity, and his presence remains magnetic as he leads the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino on a highly anticipated concert tour across China.

From last Saturday to next Thursday, the tour is visiting six Chinese cities, including Beijing, Wuhan in Hubei province, Changsha in Hunan province, and Shanghai, with eight concerts, featuring two distinct programs.

Last summer, Mehta and the Florence-based orchestra performed at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts. At the time, the maestro promised he would return in 2025 — and last Saturday, he fulfilled that promise. Returning to the NCPA — the first stop of the tour — he took the podium once again with his signature elegance and boundless energy.