Polish violinist Bronislav Huberman in 1936 founded the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in an attempt to save Jewish musicians from the emerging Nazism in Europe. The orchestra, at the time called Palestine Orchestra, held its first concert with Artur Toscanini as conductor.
Since the establishment of Israel's independence in 1948 the orchestra has been called the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with numerous prominent conductors and soloists. It holds more than 200 concerts a year.
Zubin Mehta became the orchestra's lifelong chief conductor in 1981.
Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra last performed in Croatia in 2004.