The world-renowned Indian conductor Zubin Mehta who performed Mozart's Requiem in the ruined Sarajevo City Hall, in 1994, is back in town, after thirty years. This time he will conduct a concert at the National Theater on Saturday, where the works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky will be performed, and a concerto for violin and orchestra performed by Violeta Smailovic Huart.

The director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, Vedran Tuce, recalled that the 1994 concert in the City Hall, was performed under the title “Better World”, and now, 30 years later, will be performed under the title “Now it's Different”.

Mehta stated at the press conference that he was positively surprised by Sarajevo and that he was unable to recognise it from what he was back in 1994. The conductor added that the memory of the concert from 30 years ago is still fresh and that he enjoys working with the Sarajevo Philharmonic.

Those who did not manage to get the tickets for the Saturday concert will have the opportunity to watch it on LED screens in front of the National Theater building.

“I'm glad that the audience will have the opportunity to watch our concert on the screen in front of the Theatre”, Mehta said adding that he would come out in front of the Theatre after the concert, to greet the audience.

Speaking about his performance in Sarajevo, maestro Zubin Mehta also referred to the auditorium of the National Theater.

“This concert hall is a wonderful Austro-Hungarian hall, and I hope that the citizens of this country who showed great love for art will get another concert hall because 400 seats in this hall are not enough for a society that loves music. If you make it, I will come to open it,” Maestro Mehta said.

Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karic also used the opportunity to present a special thank you note to Maestro Mehta.

The Sarajevo Philharmonic, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, started its concert season on October 11th, with a concert conducted by Riccardo Muti, and ends its successful season on Saturday, with the concert “Now It's Different” in cooperation with Zubin Mehta. The concert starts at 8 pm.