The maestro returns

The conductor is also keen on working with young musicians. During his recent tour in China, Mehta performed with pianist Vanessa Benelli Mosell and violinist Amira Abouzahra. He says that since the musicians of the orchestra work with many conductors and soloists, they are flexible, and he respects their talents and personalities.

Before the concert opened on Friday, Mehta's presence was felt from the moment the stage doors opened. The crowd began cheering before the conductor could even be seen. By the end of the concert, the conductor returned to the stage and performed Brahms' Hungarian Dance No 5 during the encore session. The audience gave a long ovation as an expression of admiration for the conductor.

"I love the Chinese audience and we have a bond," the conductor says.

Over the past 17 years, he has performed at the NCPA many times since the iconic venue opened in 2007. Besides the NCPA's production of Aida, Mehta has also performed at the NCPA with symphony orchestras, such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

"I have many unforgettable experience in China," says Mehta, mentioning the New Year concert with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008 that he performed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and Puccini's Turandot that he did with famous film director Zhang Yimou at the Forbidden City in 1998.

"I remember with the greatest pleasure that we performed nine concerts with each one having audiences of about 4,000. The concerts were unique experiences that I will never forget," he says.

Mehta also notes that he loves coming to China not only as a musician but also as a tourist. Along with his wife, he saw pandas in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and the mural paintings of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province.