YOUNG VIOLINIST

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1935, Page 11

YOUNG VIOLINIST

YEHUDI MENUHJX

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON

Some nine years ago the musical world acclaimed a new prodigy among violinists. It was Yehudi Menuhin. Today, still two years short of his majority, Menuhin has triumphs to his credit in every capital of the world. Perhaps musically he has no fresh worlds to conquer, but the power to bring pleasure to thousands, not only through the medium of his concerts but his records as well, is still his.

Yehudi. Menuhin, accompanied by his father and mother and hio two sisters, arrived in Wellington today to carry out concert engagements, and a "Post" reporter who called on him at the St. George Hotel found him to be a delightful personality, entirely unspoiled by his successes.

The young violinist was ready to converse on musical matters, but of his own achievements he 'had little to say. He was deeply impressed by the magnificent reception he received in Auckland, and- said it was not difficult to see that Aucklahders—and,' no doubt, he said, the same applied in other centres in the Dominion—were a music-loving people, with a deep appreciation of all that was best in music. IHe gained the impression that New Zealanders are more appreciative of high-class music than the people of Australia,, and said this was probably accounted for by the fact that the Australians were great people for the open air. "They are probably fonder of sport than the New Zealanders, and the result is that they have less time to devote to the arts," he said. "And," he added wih a smile, "it seems to rain more here than in Australia, and that may have something to do with it." VARYING MUSICAL TASTE.: Menuhin said that he had been impressed by the number of fine pianists there were to be found in New Zealand. That comment had been made to him by Australians, and during the short time he had been in New Zealand he had been able to confirm it. There appeared to be a strong German influence on music in New Zealand. "The German would be lost without his music, you know," he said. "Just in the same way that an Italian, must sing. It is in Holland and in Switzerland that the people call for what is usually known as heavy music, though. In the small town of Basle, in Switzerland, where the population is less than that of Wellington, it is not unusual for people to attend concerts night after night, and the heavier the music the more they like it." Yehudi Menuhin • said there was a high appreciation of good music in Ame^ca, despite the fact that that country had the reputation of being the home of jazz. He did not hink hat jazz lessened the public's appreciation of music; in fact, it probably helped it. "You know," he said, "the people get tired of jazz and they are only too glad to get back to the classics." He agreed :that broadcasting was an educative force, but not nearly so valuable as first-class concerts. There was an atmosphere ab.out a concert which helped people to get the best out of the music, and, moreover, the artist was to be seen. It was sur-. prising to him, he said, that more was not done in New Zealand in the direction of receiving by short-wave wireless, concerts from the main cities of America. The people of America were able to listen to high-class orchestral concerts every night .of the week by means of the broadcastingfserviee, and it would be valuable if those concerts could be heard in New Zealand. Menuhin had, to confess that young people were-not as appreciative of good music as they used to be, but that was probably a passing phase. It ■might be that the mechanical age had ■something to do with that. HQW MENUHIN WORKS. , Practice fills a big part of the young violinist's day. Usually, he devotes three or four hours out of the twentyfour to practice, although on the day after a concert he has a complete spell. He confines his concerts to not more than forty in a year, although he receives offers .for from 350 to 400 engagements annually. His' appearances are not confined to the main capitals of the world, because his parents realise the importance of travel. Menuhin's programme is tentatively planned until 1940, and he has in prospect visits to Japan, Russia, and South America. On his tours he misses the symphony concerts which he used to attend regularly in the great world centres, and he confessed to .being somewhat starved for music.

Menuhin's father.said it was intended that the family should make Wellington its headquarters for the next month or so. There would be engagements in the south, following the Wellington concerts, and after that they intended to have a holiday until the time arrived for them to leave for Australia, en route to South Africa. "We may go to Mount Cook or Tongariro," said Mr. Menuhin, "and then again we might just stay in Wellington. The weather did not give us a very friendly reception this morning, but it will improve."

During his visits to European capi» tals Yehudi Mehuhin has made a host of friends, and while he was • being interviewed this morning he received a large batch of letters bearing the postmarks of a number. of different countries. "Mail day is a real, holiday for Yehudi and his sisters," said the young violinist's' father, as the. reporter took'his leave. ■■■■•■•