KINDLY GENIUS

Evening Star, Issue 22087, 22 July 1935, Page 6

KINDLY GENIUS

MENUHIN HEARS BUND GIRL VIOLINIST [Pw Uinva* Pant Amociatioit.] TIMARU, July 22, The celebrated violinist, Yehudi Menuhin, who is touring New Zealand, made a concession at Christchurch yesterday which he has never done before in his musical career. He graciously granted an interview to an amateur violinist, and that singular distinction fell to Ethel .Gibson, Timaru’s little blind player, who has shown great promise as a musician. It has Tong been her ambition to hear and meet one of the world’s outstanding violinists, and yesterday her hopes were realised. During Menuhin’s North Island tour, representations were maae from, Timaru to Messrs J. and N. Tait to inquire if the distinguished player would, in the goodness of his heart, grant her an interview, and he replied that he would be “ delighted to see her ” on his visit to Christchurch. 1 Menuhin does not grant interviews, and it was because of. his sympathy with the girl in her blindness that,he broke the rule on this occasion. In fact, Menuhin varied two of his strict-, est rules in Miss Gibson’s behalf, for during his recital at Christchurch on Saturday night he - allowed her to meet him in the artists’ room during the in■fcerval* Miss Gibson played three pieces, one being her own composition, and Menuhin was delighted with her execution and artistic interpretation. Miss Gibson’s tutor (Mr Inglis W. Todd) is also blind.