BLIND GIRL VIOLINIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22630, 23 July 1935, Page 7

BLIND GIRL VIOLINIST

YEHUDI MENUHIN’S GRACIOUSNESS ' PERSONAL INTERVIEW GRANTED. (Peb United Pres? Association) 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 Mias Ethel Gibson, Timaru’s little blind player, who has shown great promise as a musician. It has long been her ambition to hoar and meet one. of the world’s outstanding violinists, and yesterday her hopes were realised. During Menuhin’s North Island tour, representations were made 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. 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 strictest 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 interval. Miss Gibson played three pieces, one bein'- her own composition, and Menubin ’was delighted with her execution and artistic interpretation. Miss Gibson’s tutor (Mr Inglis W. Todd) is also blind.