Israeli Philharmonic 70th Anniversary Gala

Format: DVD Runtime: 97 minutes Series: Great Performances Closed captioned: No

Founded in 1936 by Polish violinist and Zionist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra -- known at that time as the Palestine Orchestra -- was established to save Jewish musicians in Europe from the imminent Holocaust. Consistently ranked among the world's leading orchestras, the Israel Philharmonic boasts a long list of accomplished composers, conductors, and guest soloists who have contributed to its rich history and critical acclaim.

Under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta -- given the title of music director for life in 1981 -- the IPO Gala program features Maurice Ravel's "La Valse," Max Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1" with guest soloist and longtime friend of the IPO Pinchas Zukerman, and Brahms' "Piano Concerto No. 1" performed with pianist Daniel Barenboim.