Last night with a friend (I don’t know what promoted the conversation about the person you admire most – it was something in musical context, I think). “Yehudi Menuhin”, was my first response (it needs no thinking on my part). I have always admired Yehudi, both as a master musician and more as a person. He died a few years ago at the age of 82.
He is considered one of the leading violinists of the last century. He was a child prodigy born in 1916 in New York of Russian Jewish parents, who migrated from Palestine to New York. His first performance was at the age of 7 that was by all accounts brilliant for a violinist at any age. Only a few years later, he played with the New York Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the great German conductor Fritz Busch. I think Yehudi must have been only 11 or 12 at that time.
By early teens, he had already won recognition in Berlin, Paris and London. In a book I read some while ago, it said that once, at his first concert in Berlin, Einstein followed Yehudi Menuhin after the concert, hugged him and said: “Now I know there is a God in heaven!”. This was the beginning of his imposing international career in which he performed with leading conductors and orchestras all over the world.
In addition to his music, Yehudi has been recognized for his extensive writings and numerous benefit concerts promoting world peace. He lived for some time in Tel-Aviv, and was very critical of the Israelis for their treatment of the Palestinians. He also practiced yoga, and could tune a violin by holding it with his feet and placing it on his head (try picturing that).
I saw him in a concert in Schewtzingen, Germany in the early 90, playing with Mannhiem Symphony. That was the only concert of Yehudi that I saw, but I own a collection of his early work.
Just wanted to share it with you. From now on, let’s hear from every member, on Friday, about who is their inspiration. I designate Sadi Sobi to be the next member to share with us all who she finds inspirational (anyone other than the Queen, please). Sadi, you have until next Friday to comeup with that, and after that, you can designate the next person who will share his or her inspiration.