Conductor Zubin Mehta is set to be recognized for his lifelong contributions on January 26, 2024, as he receives the Golden Medal of Honor from the City of Munich. The ceremony will be accompanied by a concert featuring the Munich Philharmonic, performing compositions by Weber, Ravel, and Johann Strauss II under the direction of Lahav Shani.

Born into a musical family in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, Mehta initially pursued studies in medicine for two semesters before redirecting his focus to conducting. He trained under Hans Swarowsky at the Vienna State Music Academy and achieved success by winning both the Liverpool Conducting Competition and the Sergei Koussevitzky Competition in Tanglewood.

By the age of 25, Mehta had already conducted renowned orchestras such as the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, as well as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He served as the music director for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1961 to 1967 and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from 1962 to 1978. In 1977, he became the chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and assumed the role of music director for life in 1981.

Mehta took the helm at the New York Philharmonic in 1978, securing the position of its longest-serving conductor with a tenure lasting thirteen years.

The Munich Philharmonic expressed their joy on social media, stating, "On January 26, he will be honored with the Golden Medal of Honor from the City of Munich: Zubin Mehta! We are thrilled about this and feel deeply fulfilled after our first week with four concerts together. Dear Maestro, you are truly a remarkable musician and person!"