Yehudi Menuhin

Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin of Stoke d'Abernon, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916. New York City, United States – March 12, 1999, Berlin, Germany) was a Jewish American-born violinist, violist, and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was a student of Louis Persinger, George Enescu, and Adolf Busch.

World War II musician

Yehudi Menuhin performed for allied soldiers during World War II, and went with the composer Benjamin Britten to perform for the inmates of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, after its liberation in April 1945. He went back to Germany in 1947 to perform music under the conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler as an act of reconciliation, becoming the first Jewish musician to go back to Germany after the Holocaust. After building early success on richly romantic and tonally opulent performances, he experienced considerable physical and artistic difficulties caused by overwork during World War II and unfocused early training. Careful practice and study combined with meditation and yoga helped him overcome many of these problems, and he continued to perform to an advanced age, becoming known for profound interpretations of an austere quality. When he finally started recording, he became famous for practicing pieces of music by deconstructing phrases one note at a time.

Related Topics:
World War II - Benjamin Britten - Bergen-Belsen - Concentration camp - 1945 - Germany - 1947 - Wilhelm Furtwangler - Jew - The Holocaust - Meditation - Yoga

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