International Beethoven Project Names Zarin Mehta Beethoven Spirit Award Recipient

The International Beethoven Project, headed by President George Lepauw, has announced the recipient of the third annual Beethoven Spirit Award, Zarin Mehta, a global leader in arts administration, retiring President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic, and former President and Executive Director of the Ravinia Festival. Mehta will receive the Beethoven Spirit Award IN PERSON at the Beethoven Festival's Grand Opening Concert (immediately following intermission) on Sat., Sept. 8 at 7pm at National Pastime Theater (941 W. Lawrence Ave, Chicago). The Grand Opening Concert program includes the Beethoven Festival Orchestra and Grammy® Award winning violinist James Ehnes in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, conducted by Daniel Boico. Tickets are available at http://www.internationalbeethovenproject.com.

Immediately following the Grand Opening Concert, festivities continue with the annual Beethoven Festival Benefit Gala: "An Evening at the French Embassy; Vienna, 1798." Recipes inspired by the famous French essayist and food philosopher Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) will be served. Guests of honor will include Zarin Mehta, James Ehnes, Daniel Boico, and Graham Paul, Consul General of France. Live music by the Prometheus Ensemble and New Classics Singers, as well as ballet and theatrical surprises, will fill the evening between each course.

The Beethoven Spirit Award Selection Committee chose Mehta to receive its Beethoven Spirit Award in recognition of his long-standing career in the arts, for his work strengthening the New York Philharmonic's community engagement and for transforming the organization into a powerful supra-political symbol for peace with historic and unprecedented visits to Pyongyang, North Korea and Hanoi, Vietnam. The symbolism associated with these highly successful international tours by the New York Philharmonic clearly shows that art can transcend barriers and bring us closer to Beethoven's ideals of human brotherhood. Previous Beethoven Spirit Award winners are Hervé & Isabelle de la Vauvre (2010) for their support of Ronald McDonald Houses and other charitable causes, including their great support of the arts; and the Galitzine-Habsburg Family representing Otto von Habsburg (2011) for his work fighting against a divided Europe and for his key participation in the development of the political institutions of the European Union.