Yehudi Menuhin was one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was born in New York City on April 22, 1916, to Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia. His father, Moshe Menuhin, was a well-known violinist and teacher.
Yehudi’s prodigious musical talent was recognized early, and he gave his first public performance when he was just seven years old. He later studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Louis Persinger, and soon developed a reputation as a child prodigy.
Menuhin’s international career began at the age of 13 when he made his debut in Berlin, playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. He went on to perform with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, and became famous for his technical brilliance, his musicianship, and his expressive interpretations.
Menuhin was also a passionate advocate for music education and for cultural diplomacy, and he used his position as an international artist to promote these causes. In 1959, he founded the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England, which became a leading institution for the training of young musicians. He also founded the Menuhin Foundation in Switzerland, which promotes cross-cultural understanding through the arts.
In addition to his work as a violinist and educator, Menuhin was also a conductor and a prolific recording artist. He made more than 300 recordings during his career, many of which are still regarded as definitive interpretations of the works he performed. His recordings include the violin concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky, among others.
Menuhin was honored with numerous awards during his lifetime, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the United Nations Peace Medal, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1955 and was given a knighthood in 1965. He was also appointed to the French Legion of Honor in 1985.
Menuhin continued to perform well into his later years, and his influence on the music world is still felt today. He died on March 12, 1999, at the age of 82, but his legacy as one of the greatest violinists and cultural ambassadors of all time lives on.