Yehudi Menuhin

Much more than a great musician

Top Classical, May 2021
Yehudi Menuhin was born in New York on April 22, 1916, beginning to study violin at the age of four with Sigmund Anker in San Francisco, his first teacher; and made his debut at age 7, with the Spanish Symphony. His presentation in New York at the age of 10 was a resounding success that led to his debut in Europe in 1927. In November of that same year, he presented Beethoven’s Concerto for violin opus 61 under the baton of Fritz Busch in New York, becoming the spotlight of the main newspapers in the country. He quickly arranged concert tours of the United States, Berlin (1928) and London (1929). He played around 500 concerts to servicemen and wounded soldiers throughout the Second World War and travelled to Belsen in July 1945 to play for survivors.  

Spanning seven decades, the American violinist’s career is one of the most spectacular of our time. He has performed the main international stages, first as a violinist an then also as conductor, together with the best soloists and orchestral formations. 

He founded the international Menuhin Competition and the UK’s Yehudi Menuhin School to support the next generation. When he died in Berlin in 1999 on a conducting tour, it was one of his protégés, Daniel Hope, who was the soloist; other starry alumnae of the school include violinists Nigel Kennedy, Nicola Benedetti and Alina Ibragimova. 

Yehudi Menuhin was a full teacher, not only in his musical dimension but also as a humanitarian role model. Very few would argue that he is an example to follow. 

His unparalleled talent is unarguable, but it’s especially laudable his work in the field of pedagogy, for his fight for humanitarian causes, and for his use of music as tool to improve people’s life through the promotion of values of tolerance and against discrimination. He never stopped fighting for music, peace and coexistence among men and women.   

In 1992, he promoted the establishment of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, to promote social integration of disadvantaged children through artistic activities and the defense of the rights of cultural minorities. The Foundation also had the aim to create international cooperation networks in the fields of education and culture. In January 2003, the Yehudi Menuhin Spain Foundation was awarded the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Social Solidarity, imposed by H.M. The Queen.