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At age 5 in 1921, Yehudi Menuhin gave his first public solo appearance. Two years later, he made his formal debut at age 7 with the San Francisco Symphony. In 1932 he recorded Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto with the composer, then founded the Menuhin Festival Gstaad in 1957. He received the Wolf Prize in 1991 and died in Berlin in 1999.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Yehudi Menuhin — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Yehudi Menuhin by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Yehudi Menuhin — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Sigmund Anker gave Yehudi Menuhin his first violin lesson at age four. He was born on April 22, 1916 in New York City to Marutha Sher and Moshe Menuhin, who had changed the family name from Mnuchin. By age five, Menuhin gave his first public appearance as an accompanist. The family moved to Paris, where he studied with Louis Persinger and later with George Enescu. He also studied under Adolf Busch in Basel and attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Menuhin made his formal debut on February 29, 1924 at the Oakland Auditorium, then performed solo with the San Francisco Symphony under Alfred Hertz. On March 17, 1926, his New York debut at the Manhattan Opera House established his reputation. In 1929, at age 12, he performed Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms violin concertos at the Semperoper in Dresden. He recorded Elgar’s Violin Concerto with the composer in 1932 and made the first integral recording of Bach’s solo violin sonatas and partitas from 1934 to 1936. After World War II, in 1947, he returned to Germany to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic under Wilhelm Furtwängler as an act of reconciliation. In the 1970s, he collaborated with jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli, and with sitarist Ravi Shankar he produced the Grammy-winning album West Meets East in 1967.
Menuhin married Nola Nicholas in 1938; they divorced in 1947. On October 19, 1947, he married Diana Menuhin, and they stayed together until his death. He had four children: Zamira, Krov, Gerard, and Jeremy. His sisters Hephzibah and Yaltah were also musicians. He lived in London from the 1940s until his death, and he received a knighthood in 1993. He counted Boris Vian as a close friend and was influenced by philosopher Constantin Brunner.
Menuhin ranks among the great violinists of the 20th century. He founded the Menuhin Festival Gstaad in 1957 and the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in 1983, which launched careers of violinists like Tasmin Little and Julia Fischer. He also co-founded Live Music Now in 1977, the largest outreach music project in the UK. His recording contract with EMI lasted nearly 70 years, the longest in music industry history. In 1991 he received the Wolf Prize. The centenary of his birth in 2016 was marked by the Warner Classics release of The Menuhin Century, an 80-CD collection. Menuhin is remembered as a child prodigy who became a humanitarian and bridge-builder between cultures.
The complete filmography of Yehudi Menuhin — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Yehudi Menuhin — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Yehudi Menuhin's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Yehudi Menuhin — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Stéphane Grappelli Is Like One of Those Jugglers Who Send 10 Plates into the Air and Recover Them All.
Little-known facts about Yehudi Menuhin — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
He was a child prodigy violinist, conductor, festival impresario, teacher, and supporter of many humanitarian causes.
Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6710 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Made his concert debut at the age of 7.
Living in London until his death, he was knighted in 1993.
Sir Yehudi founded an international school for gifted young musicians.
His widow Diana born 12 November 1912 outlived her husband by four years. She passed away on 25 January 2003.
Awarded the O.M. Order of Merit in 1987, crowned in 1993, and British citation in 1985 for his services to music.
Childhood friend of Boris Vian.
Considered one of the great violinists of the 20th century.
First concerto recording made in 1931, Bruch’s G minor, under Sir Landon Ronald in London, labels calling him Master Yehudi Menuhin.
On 12 April 1929, the Semperoper cancelled its advertised programme to make way for a performance by the twelve-year-old Yehudi Menuhin, playing Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms violin concertos.
Interest in the music of Béla Bartók prompted him to commission the Sonata for Solo Violin, completed in 1943 and first performed by Menuhin in New York in 1944.
Credited German philosopher Constantin Brunner with providing him with a theoretical framework within which I could fit the events and experiences of life.
In the 1980s, wrote and oversaw the creation of a Music Guides series of books covering musical instruments.
Between 1934 and 1936, made the first integral recording of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sonatas and partitas for solo violin.
First public solo appearance in November 1921, at a pupil’s concert.
Worked with famous jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli in the 1970s on the album Jalousie, an album of 1930s classics.
Through his father Moshe, descended from a rabbinical dynasty. In late 1919, parents became American citizens and changed the family name from Mnuchin to Menuhin.
First violin instruction at age four by Sigmund Anker 1891-1958.
On February 29, 1924, formally debuted at the Oakland Auditorium followed by a solo performance with the San Francisco Symphony under Alfred Hertz and a recital at the Scottish Rite Hall.
Returned to Germany in 1947 to play concerto concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic under Wilhelm Furtwängler as an act of reconciliation, the first Jewish musician to do so after the Holocaust.
Displayed exceptional musical talent at an early age; first public appearance as accompanist at age five, and as soloist with the San Francisco Symphony at age seven in 1923.
Also a student of Adolf Busch in Basel for over a year, where he also took lessons in German and Italian.
In 1932 recorded Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B minor for HMV in London with the composer conducting; in 1934 recorded Paganini’s D major Concerto with Emile Sauret’s cadenza in Paris under Pierre Monteux.
Sisters were concert pianist and human rights activist Hephzibah, and pianist, painter and poet Yaltah.
Studied with George Enescu after a lesson with Eugène Ysaÿe; made recordings with several piano accompanists, including his sister Hephzibah.
Parents wanted Louis Persinger to teach him; Menuhin took lessons from Persinger at his Hyde Street studio, who accompanied him on piano for his first few solo recordings in 1928-29.
Played the Soil Stradivarius, considered one of the finest violins made by Antonio Stradivari.
With Louis Kentner, gave the first performance of William Walton’s Violin Sonata in Zürich on 30 September 1949.
Long association and deep friendship with Ravi Shankar beginning in 1952, leading to joint performance in 1966 at the Bath Festival and the Grammy-winning album West Meets East 1967.
Commissioned composer Alan Hovhaness to write a concerto for violin, sitar, and orchestra titled Shambala c. 1970, never recorded by Menuhin and Shankar.
Following his role as a jury member at the 1955 Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, secured a Rockefeller Foundation grant for the grand prize winner Alberto Lysy, who became his only personal student.
In 1991, awarded the Wolf Prize by the Israeli Government; in his acceptance speech in the Knesset, criticized Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank.
Made several recordings with German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and defended him against criticism for conducting in Nazi Germany.
In 2009, EMI released a 51-CD retrospective titled Yehudi Menuhin: The Great EMI Recordings.
From 1984 until his death, first guest conductor of Sinfonia Varsovia, performing over 300 times.
In 1983, with Robert Masters founded the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists; prizewinners include Tasmin Little, Nikolaj Znaider, Julia Fischer, and Ray Chen.
Recorded over 300 works for EMI, both as violinist and conductor.
In 1975, as president of the International Music Council, declared October 1 as International Music Day.
His recording contract with EMI lasted almost 70 years, the longest in music industry history.
Regularly returned to the San Francisco Bay Area, sometimes performing with the San Francisco Symphony, including a memorable performance of Elgar’s Violin Concerto.
In 1977, with Ian Stoutzker founded Live Music Now, the largest outreach music project in the UK.
In 1957, founded the Menuhin Festival Gstaad in Gstaad, Switzerland.
On 22 April 1978, with Stéphane Grappelli performed Pick Yourself Up as the interval act at the 23rd Eurovision Song Contest.
Hosted the PBS telecast of the gala opening concert of the San Francisco Symphony from Davies Symphony Hall in September 1980.
In 2016, Warner Classics issued an 80-CD collection The Menuhin Century, curated by Bruno Monsaingeon.
At the Edinburgh Festival, premiered Priaulx Rainier’s violin concerto Due Canti e Finale, commissioned by Menuhin; also commissioned her last work Wildlife Celebration for Gerald Durrell’s Wildlife Conservation Trust.
In 1990, first conductor for the Asian Youth Orchestra, touring Asia with Julian Lloyd Webber.
Made his first recording at age 13 in November 1929, and last in 1999 at nearly 83.
In 1991, became Principal Guest Conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra until his death.
In 1952, introduced to yogi B. K. S. Iyengar by Prime Minister Nehru; arranged for Iyengar to teach abroad, becoming one of the first prominent yoga masters in the West.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Yehudi Menuhin.
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