YEHUDI MENUHIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22630, 23 July 1935, Page 13

YEHUDI MENUHIN

THE DUNEDIN CONCERT The box plans opened yesterday mom ing for the concert to be given in th< Town Hall on Saturday next by th< world-famous violinist, Yehudi Menuhin This youthful artist, who is undoubtedlj I the most noted musical celebrity of the : age, has been greeted in Australia anc I the northern cities of the Dominion with scenes of unbounded enthusiasm at each concert, and Dunedin music-lovers have already shown by their interest in the forthcoming visit that they appreciate this only opportunity of hearing Menuhin. Capacity houses at each of the 10 concerts which Menuhin has , given in the Royal Albert'Hall, London, a hall which seats 10,000, is an indication of the reception accorded this genius by the leadifag centres of the world. The great European centres privileged to hear Yehudi Menuhin were so moved to immense fervour at his debut appearances that scenes of enthusiasm unprecedented in musical history were witnessed. It is safe to say that never before has an artist captured the imagination of the public like Menuhin has done. Critics are left without superlatives to express their appreciation of his playing. Perhaps the youth of Menuhin has something to do with his extreme popularity, this aud the almost incredible intensity that inform his vital and closely vibrant tone. Every detail of Menuhin’s work palpitates with life. With bow and flying fingers he is said to fascinate all who hear him, and vast audiences (not all musicians, but definitely music-lovers) have sat spellbound while Menuhin and his accompanist, Marcel Gazelle, have interpreted programmes of outstanding excellence. Menuhin’s art is such that he has become the friend of men older than himself, who admit that they' cherish the friendship with the young genius because ne is a flame at which they gain warmth and stimulus. The late Sir Edward Elgar was a great personal friend of the artist, and Toscanini, the famous conductor, is in the habit of meeting him when they are both in New York. The visit of Yehudi Menuhin comes as a sort of climax to the Tait direction of such famous personages as Paderewski, Galli Curci, Pavlova, Kreisler, Heifetz, Moiseivicth, Hambourg, and Kubelik, and was made possible only after negotiations extending over four years by Messrs J. and N. Tait, who outbid the concert directors of other nations. The box plan is at the D.I.C.