A Buchmann-Mehta Music Celebration

The TAU Buchmann-Mehta School of Music (BMSM) Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the legendary Maestro Zubin Mehta, delivered a memorable performance to celebrate the 110th anniversary of TAU’s longtime academic partner Goethe University Frankfurt, on October 30, 2024. Maestro Mehta, the world-renowned master conductor and the Music School’s Honorary President, travelled to Germany to conduct this concert himself as a sign of appreciation to his close friend Josef Buchmann, founder of the TAU Music School. He was joined by the full-size BMSM Symphony Orchestra coming from Tel Aviv upon the initiative and with the generous support of the Music School’s Patrons, Dr. h.c. Josef and Dr. h.c. Bareket Buchmann.  

Watch the full moving performance here.

A Musical Tribute to Bi-Lateral Collaboration 

The concert, held at Hessischer Rundfunk's Broadcasting Hall, brought together luminaries from academia, government, and Jewish leadership, including Germany’s Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Central Council of Jews in Germany President Dr. Josef Schuster, President of TAU's German Friends Uwe Becker who represented the State of Hesse as State Secretary for Finance and Hessian State Government's Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Antisemitism, as well as Goethe University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff. His opening remarks highlighted the Universities' shared values, their commitment to academic freedom, and Goethe University's steadfast solidarity with Israeli academia: “At a time when other universities turn their backs on Israel, we are sending a clear signal that we stand with you and are determined to continue our cooperation with you.”  

From right to left: Uwe Becker, President of the TAU German Friends Association; Dr. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany; Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt, and wife Antje; Dr. h.c. Bareket Buchmann; Ms. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Germany’s Minister of Education and Research; Dr. Uri Rom, Head of the TAU Buchmann-Mehta School of Music (Photo: Peter Kiefer) 

The Head of the Tel Aviv University’s School of Music, Dr. Uri Rom, greeted those present on behalf of the Tel Aviv University community, and thanked the Buchmann family for the great privilege of having the BMSM Symphony Orchestra perform under the baton of the School’s Honorary President, Maestro Zubin Mehta, at this unique event. 

Maestro Mehta, who served as Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) for 50 years, was greeted with standing ovations. He took the microphone to express his gratitude for the priceless gift that the Buchmann family donated to Israel and Tel Aviv University through the School of Music. “I told Josef about my dream to establish a top-quality music school in Israel with close ties to the IPO,” said Mehta, “and he made my dream come true in 2005”, when the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music was founded at TAU.   

Maestro Zubin Mehta greets the audience and thanks the Buchmann family (Photo: Peter Kiefer) 

The TAU Music School has become Israel’s leading music academy and brings in top students from around the globe. It trains the next generation of exceptional performing musicians, composers, conductors, and music researchers, many of whom have achieved international acclaim. The Music School's Symphony Orchestra, composed of about 90 outstanding young talents, has earned an international reputation for its high-end performances. Under the direction of Maestro Zubin Mehta and other internationally acclaimed conductors, the Orchestra has played on famous stages worldwide, including the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Alte Oper Frankfurt, Carnegie Hall New York, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, and the Sala São Paulo. Famous musicians have collaborated with the orchestra, like Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Yo-Yo Ma, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mischa Maisky, Julian Rachlin, Christoph von Dohnányi and many others. Among the numerous musical highlights, one stands out: The Orchestra performed in 2008 on International Holocaust Remembrance Day before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

The Frankfurt concert opened with “Psalms,” the second movement of the Symphony No. 1 by Paul Ben-Haim. Pianist Romy Nevo, of TAU Prof. Tomer Lev’s Piano Studio, captivated the audience with a brilliant and inspiring performance of the Third Piano Concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven, followed by Beethoven’s Third Symphony, “Eroica.”  

Maestro Zubin Mehta conducts the TAU Buchmann-Mehta School of Music Symphony Orchestra with pianist Romy Nevo (Photo: Peter Kiefer) 

A lasting Frankfurt - Tel Aviv Partnership

This extraordinary event symbolized the enduring academic partnership between Tel Aviv University and Goethe University Frankfurt. The two Universities have maintained close cooperation for 40 years, beginning with the establishment of the Josef-Buchmann Doctoral Fellowship Fund in 1984, which since then has financed over 380 outstanding doctoral students at both Universities. Josef Buchmann continued to strengthen the academic bond between Tel Aviv and Frankfurt, as well as supporting both cities individually, through projects such as the Buchmann Faculty of Law at TAU in 1994, the Josef Buchmann Wing of the Children's Hospital at Frankfurt University Hospital in 1999, and the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Goethe University in 2009, among other prominent projects.  

At the end of the concert, the Orchestra, soloist and Maestro Mehta all received rousing applause and standing ovations. Goethe President Prof. Enrico Schleiff expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Buchmann family, Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Orchestra for this extraordinary birthday gift. 

A historical moment: Dr. h.c. Josef Buchmann and Maestro Zubin Mehta at the inauguration of the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in 2005 (Photo: TAU)