We look at the late violinist and conductor's finest moments in the studio and on film..
Elgar Violin Concerto
Yehudi Menuhin; LSO/Elgar
Naxos 8.110902 (1932)
A legendary recording, given the stamp of approval by Edward Elgar himself.
JS Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor BWV 1043
Yehudi Menuhin, George Enescu; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris/Pierre Monteux
Warner 9463919632 (1932)
Worth hearing alone for the exquisite Largo played tenderly by both masters.
JS Bach Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No. 3 in E, BWV1016
Yehudi Menuhin, Wanda Landowska (harpsichord)
Naxos 8.110964 (1945)
A fascinating historical document with the added bonus of Landowska.
Paganini Violin Concerto in D Major
Yehudi Menuhin; Paris Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux
Naxos 8.111135 (1934)
Confident, soulful virtuosity – Menuhin at the height of his powers.
JS Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
Yehudi Menuhin
Naxos 8.110918 (1932-36)
Surprisingly modern interpretations of these timeless masterpieces.
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Yehudi Menuhin; Lucerne Festival Orchestra/Wilhelm Furtwängler
Testament SBT1109 (1947)
Menuhin’s musicality in the Larghetto sings out as if it were recorded yesterday.
Menuhin and Grappelli Play ‘Jealousy’ and other Great Standards
Yehuhi Menuhin and Stéphane Grappelli
EMI (download/stream only) (1988)
Menuhin lets his hair down – and charms in the process. Grappelli holds it all together.
Elgar Cello Concerto
Julian Lloyd Webber (cello); RPO/Menuhin
Philips 464 7002 (1986)
One of the most rewarding recordings of this English masterwork.
Rossini Overtures
Sinfonia Varsovia/Menuhin
Sony Classical (download/stream only) (1998)
Menuhin convinces at the helm of the ensemble he helped found in 1984.
The Violin of the Century
Directed by Bruno Monsaingeon
EuroArts 207 5014 (1994)
A searching film that gets right to the heart of Yehudi Menuhin’s genius.
Menuhin: A Family Portrait
Directed by Tony Palmer
Tony Palmer Films
TPDVD120 (2009)
Tony Palmer’s film is a gripping examination of Menuhin’s tangled personal life.
Scour the internet, and you can pick up DVD copies of the films Yehudi Menuhin: Concert Magic (1948) and Yehudi Menuhin – The Swiss Years (2006). Both are highly recommended.
Michael is the Reviews Editor of BBC Music Magazine. He was previously a freelance film music journalist and spent 15 years at St George's Bristol. Michael specialises in film and television music and was the Editor of MusicfromtheMovies.com. He has written for the BBC Proms, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall, Hollywood in Vienna and Silva Screen Records.
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