On the first day of 2007, Maestro Zubin Mehta greeted the new year by performing works of the Strauss family at the Golden Hall of Musikverein in Vienna. On December 31, the conductor will farewell the year by bringing Strauss' melodies to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. With the noted Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mehta will also bring audiences a special gift - the opening performance of John Williams' Olympic Fanfare.

Metha will also conduct Chinese composer Lu Qiming's Ode to the Red Flag, an orchestral work paying tribute to China's National Day.

Highlights also include Mehta's personal favors, including Johann Strauss' Die Fleidermaus Overture and Edmund Strauss' Ohne Bremse Polka Schnell, Op 238. Antonin Dvorak's eminent From the New World, Op 95 is also on the list.

Due to high demand for tickets, Mehta will also perform a similar bill on December 30.

It will be Mehta's sixth trip to China. Before the Beijing performance, he will conduct two concerts, one in the Shenzhen Concert Hall on December 27 and another in the Shanghai Grand Theater on 29.

Another New Year's Concert will be staged in the newly built National Center for Performing Arts, featuring internationally acclaimed conductor Seiji Qzawa leading the China National Symphony Orchestra.

(China Daily December 21, 2007)