In February 2026, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra undertakes a European tour conducted by Zubin Mehta, with concerts in Spain, Italy, and Austria.
The tour follows the orchestra’s spring 2025 appearances in China and Europe, which marked a significant moment in its history. For the first time since the orchestra’s founding, a concert tour was led by a conductor other than its co-founder, Daniel Barenboim. Although not conducting, Barenboim remained closely involved. He attended the rehearsals at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin and worked intensively with the musicians and with Zubin Mehta, with whom he has shared a long personal and artistic relationship.
At the time, Barenboim spoke of the importance he attaches to the orchestra and of the particular satisfaction he felt in seeing Mehta and the Divan make music together. He described the project as deeply meaningful to him, both personally and artistically, and emphasised his continued responsibility towards the orchestra and its work.
The February 2026 tour develops this collaboration further. It also coincides with a milestone year for Zubin Mehta, who celebrates his 90th birthday.
The itinerary includes performances in Madrid, Barcelona, and Oviedo, before continuing to Turin and Vienna. In Madrid and Barcelona, Zubin Mehta and the orchestra will be joined by Spanish violinist María Dueñas, who will perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G major, Op. 26. The programs also feature orchestral works by Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert.
