AS A VIOLINIST...
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A fascinating historical document with the added bonus of Landowska.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.
AS CONDUCTOR
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.
ON FILM
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.
PLUS
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.
Yehudi Menuhin featured strongly in our list of the 20 greatest violinists of all time.
