Who's Yehudi? - Yehudi Menuhin BBC documentary
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2019
- Yehudi Menuhin was the twentieth century's greatest violinist. As famous as any Hollywood star, he even had songs written about him.
A child prodigy, unmatched by his contemporaries, he achieved more by his teens than most artists do in a lifetime. But the man behind the violin was harder to know - his cocooned and curious childhood marked him emotionally for life.
Endlessly touring and crossing continents and cultures, the man whose contract with EMI was the longest in the history of the music industry took classical music out of the concert hall because he believed music was for everyone and had the power to change lives.
An impassioned idealist, Yehudi wanted to give more to the world than music - he became a tireless figure fighting for the humanitarian issues he believed in.
Presenter Clemency Burton-Hill was fifteen and a student at the Royal College of Music when Yehudi first heard her play and asked her to study with him. She says of that first lesson, 'We worked through pieces of Bach and Beethoven. And I walked out of there a better fiddle player. But I also came out with a sense that to be a truly great musician is about much more than just music...'
In this film, which commemorates the 100th year of Yehudi's birth, family members and close friends recall his extraordinary musical life, one in which he embraced jazz and Indian ragas as much as Bach, Beethoven and Bartok.
And incredible home movies, some dating back to 1927 and many never seen before, take us on an intimate behind-the-scenes journey from his childhood in California, to meeting gypsies in Romania and travelling to India and beyond.
Met him after a concert at the SF Opera house after sneaking in the back door with a gf at the time and her twin sister, waited outside his dressing room, he shook hands with the two girls, I grabbed a pen from someone nearby, chased after him and asked if he would sign his pic in the program booklet, he handed me his case and used it to sign on during which I mentioned in one of the movements he held on to a particular note to which he replyed, “yes, I know and conductors hate it”..very humble and gracious and a privilege to have met him 🙏🏻🎻
"The 20th century's greatest violinist" - Heifetz, Oistrakh, Milstein, et. al. have entered the chat. Seriously, it's hard to say there was "the" greatest.
That comment jarred me too! He was definitely among the group of great violinists. His time was crowded with greats. You could take your pick, since they were all very individual. Menuhin has an especially beautiful tone, without the "schmaltziness" of the Russian/gypsy school, but still wonderfully sentimental, as demonstrated here by use of his "slide".
Honestly. Hearing Menuhin play Bach double concerto beside David Oistrakh really made him sound anything but exceptional
I wouldn't put him in the top 100.
Bias of one of his students - but he had a certain "articuteness" - I think the young Teo Gertler is developing a similar style. Definitely one of the greater violinists IMHO.
Some similarity to Janine Jansen - but she draws attention to the "phrase," somehow Menuhin drew attention to each part of the phrase, like a person with perfect enunciation.
Yehudi Menuhin was a true gift from God to the people of this earth.
Except for his sons - Listen to them speaking of a cold and distant father
That's not my take as presented in this biography. Your comment is the antithesis of how I feel he felt of himself
Wonderful documentary. To me, Menuhin is more than just a great violinist. He was a great personality and human being. I had the honor of meeting him backstage at a recital in Miami, FL. Though his technical prowess had largely deteriorated, his musicality and artistic vision were intact. He was an intuitive player whose musical gift was God-given.
A great man, . He showed me a Viola, and showed me how to love it , if I took care of it . I was 7 . Olsen , the PA announced , you have to go to the music room. And there he was. Hello , my name is Yehudi Mehunin , -- Hello my name is Jan Petter Norli Olsen. Helllo Mr. Djedin, so I didn't get drums ? My name is not Djedin. And my name is not Djan. Let's start again, Can you call me Mr. Carl. Ok, and you can call me Petey. He showed up every now and then, I always kept that Viola close. Running like a rabbit through the football field , Sissy , Sissy. I cut off a tendron in my left ring finger the second year of study, when I was clearing out stones after blasting out a place for our new house in Norway. When I showed up with the viola after the summer, and showed him my finger, he started crying and so did I. You can never play the Viola perfect with that finger . But you can play anything if you want to . Can I see you again, Mr. Carl ? We might, but I won't be back at this school. " Can I keep the Viola ? I love it. Then he called me Yan, I wish I could but I have borrowed it myself and I have to return it. Never thought about it until i saw a video of him and Ravi Shankar. That's Carl
He is one person that i wanted to hear perform live.
InstaBlaster...
WOW! You are so fortunate to have met him! Albert Einstein LOVED LISTENING AND WATCHING him perform!
Finally! Two minutes and thirty seconds in and we finally hear Yehudi.
When the Second World War was finished Menuhin came to Berlin to play on the ruïnes. He was a wonderful and amazing human being.
That he spoke up for Rostropovich in public is one very superb reason, plus the school he founded why he was the greatest violinist of the 20th century.
God has liberated him through music. Love and deepest respect for him.
Incredible violinist and wonderful human-being...... may rest in peace
Amen
Amen
Great Violinist Forever !
Soo impressed about the fact he was in Rumanien with Enescu(whose house and family lived in Dorohoi near my Gimschool,i had to pass by for 8years from Mo till Fr every day
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😮 va
Un documental extraordinario! Si hubiera subtítulos disponibles sería perfecto! 💜🎶💜🎻
❤❤❤🎻🎻🎻Magnificent violinist and kind- hearted man!!!!!
"Yehudi Menuhin’s parents were exceptional only in their lifelong insistence that they had never exploited their son. The facts tell a different story." From "The Riddle of Yehudi Menuhin"
So happy to have found this, after also stumbling across “Menuhin in Hollywood” elsewhere. Two gems that keep this larger than life person among us.
Yehudi Menuhin, the greatest violinist and humanitarian who ever lived.
Thank you so much for this wonderful documentary! 💕👏👏
No, he wasn't the 20th century's greatest violinist ! He was certainly one of them and, maybe, the most famous, but that's not the same thing.
The Elgar Violin Concerto is my most favourite piece of music of all, and the 16 yo Menuhin’s 1932 interpretation the greatest of all time. I have the original recording with Elgar conducting and a later recording with Sir Adrian Boult both truly remarkable ( Both on LP ) I can forget the world for a while when listening to this Violin Concerto
Zahvalna za ovaj istinit dokumentari video
Thanks so much for this documentary, I learnt such a lot.
52:20 Daniel Hope tells the story of what turned out to be Menuhin's last concert. DH decides to play the solo line (copying Menuhin's trademark rendition) of Maurice Ravel's Kaddish. He dedicates it, prior to playing, to Menuhin. As he and Menuhin walk off stage together, Menuhin tells him, "You know, I haven't heard that piece in so many years!" Hope says, "Your recording is the one that I always listen to." "It was rather good, wasn't it." "Yes, it really was." He said, "But you know, on the D string, you should play 2 3 2 2, not 2 2 33..."
Wonderful work thank you
i am a happier person after this historic jewel
Un grand homme et un grand violoniste.
I admire Menuhin for many years now - it's not just his music, but also his books, philosophical views, etc. I enjoyed this - excellently hosted - portrait immensely! ❤️
Nem akartam ezt leírni Németországban turnéztunk magyar cigányzenekarral többen tudták azt hogy több hangszeren játszom akkor cigány zenekarban játszottam mint cimbalmos ez egy olyan turné volt hogy több országból voltak meghívó zenészek két orosz zenész gitáron játszottak az egyik lebetegedett és akkor engem küldtek oda mint harmonikás ketten turnéztunk szenzációs zenész volt jó barátom lett jártok Németországot hetente játszottunk mindig felléptünk mindig busz szállított minket elvittek egy nagyon csodálatos városba ott Németországban fantasztikus helyen léptünk fel hál Istennek A közönségnek nagyon tetszett de valakit megláttam Nem hittem a szememnek yehudi menuhin szünetben odajött hozzánk volt ott egy steinway zongora mondja azt hogy az közönség szeretné yehudi menuhin játszana nekünk és akkor nekem szólt volt ott steinway zongora próba nélkül megkérdezte hogy miket ismerek Én mondtam neki hogy sok mindent az életem legnagyobb élménye volt együtt fellépni soha nem fogom elfelejteni
One of the sentences that jumped out at me of his autobiography was this surprise and gratefulness at his parents, who let their son move in with his wife after marriage, as if it was the natural thing to do. ^^
That's such a revealing comment and rather sad.
43:17 being apologetic, not a description I would associate with Nigel Kennedy from how we know him today. So wonderfully see where his pupils are now , making their own music and expressing in so many different wonderful ways!!
I simply cried!
Very interesting. Thanks.
I was lucky enough to be in the orchestra in Belfast (Ulster Orchestra) when he played the Beethoven with us in the 1970s. Yes the word then was that his technical prowess had largely deteriorated, but he played wonderfully especially in the rehearsal. I believe his sister said it was the best he had played for 30 years. A real privilege and a lasting memory for all of us.
Perfekt,Herr Menuhin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At. 8:17 Daniel Hope speaks of how Menuhin does slides. A perfect example of this is in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 (2:32) For a few decades, I thought that Menuhin had added an extra note, but Hope´s explanation of slides makes things clear. Listen to this passage (2:32) - no other violinist does this. czcams.com/video/q-TKjROisXw/video.html
Zamira Benthall, 🎻 violinist Yuhudi Menuhin's daughter at 54:44 - "I remember him as a light, as a Shining Light. So I think he's still around somehow."
He is. I think my dad heard him in the Aleutians.
Proud to find that George Enescu, our great Romanian composer and violonist, was his "true mentor"... at 14:50
Yes. Awesome documentary. I am not to keen on slightly gushing? subjective? evaluations such as ‘Menuhin’s recording of the Elgar became the gold standard.’ To be fair, Heifetz’ version was later, but that performance, although radically different to the glorious Menuhin sets a similar standard in my opinion. They are so different any objective comparison is not really possible. Ken Piper at RCM told me that his teachers, Sammons, showed him a letter from Heifetz when he (Heifetz) was preparing the work. He thanked Sammons for his superb recording and humbly noted that it had helped him arrive at his interpretation. I regret I am unable to quote this letter verbatim because it would shed some remarkable light on the Heifetz persona. Anyway, off to listen to the Menuhin Elgar again because it is just too beautiful for words.
I was lucky to be at two of his live concerts in the 90s, one at Davies Hall in SF where he conducted New Year concert and the other one with him conducting Royal Philharmonic (also in San Francisco) and playing Bach's double concerto. Will never forget it. At the Davies Hall I was right above the stage on the balcony and literally could look straight into his eyes.
How sweet😊 Is this your favorite tone?
@@scottrichard5792 What do you mean by tone?
@@BytomGirl Meant if this is your favorite song?
@@scottrichard5792 This is a documentary
@@BytomGirl My bad! Was meant to ask “which” is your favorite tone?
What a wonderful tribute to this great child prodigy, virtuoso violinist.
A thoroughly interesting record of his life passion for music, humanitarian dedication to others and immeasurable contribution to the artistic world! One of the greatest violinists ever in history.
Wendy Louise Hall ( born on 22nd April, as is Yehudi Menuhin).
He was not THE GREATEST violinist. He was one of perhaps 3 or 4 great ones.
Currently half way through his autobiography. This complements his book well in all but the treatment of his parents. The book shows his love and respect and appreciates his childhood ... Doesn't everyone mature and grow further throughout life, post school or post home education?
Thankyou sir
George Enescu was a good mentor
The statements of his son and daughter were particularly revealing.
Yes. Especially his son. In fact the two represent Yehudi's best sides amazingly well. Zamira is the intuitive impressionistic side; Krov is the keen analytical intelligence. And yet, like their father, each seems not quite a "whole" although clearly not as bereft of emotional intelligence as he.😢
I'm learning at age 30z, love since I was born!,
podrían poner subtítulos en español, por favor. admiro mucho este violinista, su historia de vida es parte de conocer y admirar su trabajo- gracias.
tiene razon
Learned YOUNG,, smart
I'm a pianist ok? I don't know that much about violin but! I never liked when someone says "this guy was the best". Because even I, as a pianist, know at least one more violinist who achieved legendary status, Jascha Heifetz and now what. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we just say that there were some greatest violinist of all time and both Menuhin and Heifetz belong to that company?
Shame on you BBC for you lack of research on Enescu and Menuhin friendship and work!! Romania didn't offer Menuhim just a gypsy music experience. Little you know of it, it seems... let me clarify it. Enescu noticed that Menuhim was in need of freedom of expression and self devopment and Romania was the place where Menuhim and his family would feel safe, welcomed and loved, an environment in which Menuhin artistic intuition could thrive. Romanian people were, especially at that time, full of spirit and wisdom, providing a rich culture with great work ethic and family orientation. Not to mention the artistic talent that Mehudin found in all domains there!! And Romania kept that way throughout the years. The encounter with the gypsy music, which is true it had given Menuhim more freedom of expression, was the pinnacle of this journey. Why? Because gypsies never read any music and played instruments by ear. They were and still are extremely talented musicians to this day, being able to produce a sound purely from the heart. But just so you know, Menuhim experience in Romania was much more than just an encounter with the gypsies! You BBC bastards who portray a beautiful country and its people as gypsies. Gipsies in Romania are 2% of its population, speak a totally different language, wear Indian style clothing, dance like Indians, their music is very Indian. The folklore music that Romanians have is very different from the gypsie's in many nany aspects and Mehudin was in touch with it and was inspired by it.
I thing i have a an innate good and fine ear for violin first and for piano too,and I find Mehuin violin sound natural sweet warm strong,profound and clear for each part and needed interpretation,it gides really beyond appereans .0
Anyone knows what song Yehudi and Hephzibah play together at 38:11 ? It sounds like a Southern Balkan Gypsy music with classical influence.
One last comment - Menuhin did not invent that slide, he "borrowed" it from Scottish fiddling.
After his Wunderkind years he seemed to be full of suppressed anger...
Mister Manoa. Where would we be without subtitles?
Im a huge fan of yehudi. Not of his playing per say. But he was a unique look into variance of style. Which makes him so special. Only such a weirdo could could create it as a look into your predisposed expectations of music. But his contradictory expectations of what a human should be as well
I wonder, so he started playing purely by ear and then learned to read music also ?
Heifetz??? Rival?
Unbelievable
Known as the first prodigy
Niccolo Paganini? Jascha Heifetz? Pablo de Sarasate? Ysaÿe? All violin prodigies born before Menuhin.
@@Sam-zt2ur and Jacques Thibaud
😇🥰😍🤩😘
0:30 sorry. I turned this video off immediately after this statement. What about Heifetz? Oistrakh? Milstein? Szeryng? Kogan? Especially considering that Menuhin lost his caliber on a substantial level when he was only around 30, his "greatness" isn't to be compared with the names above who kept their top notch shape until the end of their career. I have no dispute about Menuhin being the greatest wunderkind, though.
This film about Menuhin, isn’t? Of course Heifetz and other greatest contemporary’s of that time - still the greatest violinist we know. That was time of great musicians in general!
Music
Oh yeah, always leaves one with beautiful emotions😊 Is this your favorite tone if I may ask?
11:17 I thought Einstein said that about Rubinstein, am I wrong
I remember reading this quote about hearing Menuhin live, but I thought it was Albert Schweitzer who said it. I read that book almost 40 years ago so.....
Menuhin was indeed great. But "the greatest" is disputable. Such obnoxious presumption lol. Some of us prefer Grumiaux, the best for Bach, and so such arguments go.
stephenspry what about Heifetz as well!
I hate the way everyone us 'the greatest' :(
He lost his natural flair later on in life ; listening to his latest recordings, one wonders what the big fuss was all about... but the novelty of his sound and the historic context, and his capacity for expression at such a young age explain the lengendary status he achieved plus he had a noble mind and sincerity whch matched his playing.... I think his place in history was deserved and this documentary helps us understand the magic of Yehudi
who said Menuhin was the twentieth century's greatest violinist?
Some voice-over lady who can't even play Twinkle.
I find it odd that his son and daughter refer to Yehudi and Nola by their names, and not as father and mother.
Comme tout grand maître son meilleur élève l'a surpassé. Etc
Un don à la musique contre un don pour la musique.
Yehudi had an excellent taste in women.
I thought his parents were LIthuanian - not "Russian"
Is there any great violinist who is not a jew?
Ion Voicu, good friend with Menuhin
How about Viktoria Mullova and Sarah Chang? One should not think too nationalistically about great music, guess Menuhin would have opposed that?
@@DNA350ppm 👍👍👍
The great Ruggiero Ricci !!
@@JohnMartin-ux2rm I see. Thank you~
Peculiarity of this guy was his capacity to dissociate totally from his Jewish heritage I mean he didn’t have any particular resentments toward German people that implemented Hitler cleansed against Jewish population. In his mind creation of Israel was futile. His apparition in front of German pow in or around ‘45 was almost incomprehensible for my point of view. I’m not sure he did something like this for his “suppose” fellow Jewish people
Wonder why my comment was deleted, it was neither respectless nor rude, but simply in favour of this wonderful, caring man Yehudi Menuhin.
It goes deeper than that .... his parents had tried settling in what was to become Israel, the British Mandate, and had decided they didn't like it and came to San Francisco. There they bought a house and rented it out, themselves living in only part of it, largely the back patio I believe. His parents had gone from being Zionists to being almost anti-Zionist but, his father had learned modern Hebrew and there was a demand for instruction in that language in the US and that was a big factor in their being able to survive financially and make connections with people who were helpful to them and to young Yahudi.
He played at Belsen, for God’s sake!!!
No, Menuhin was NOT the greatest fiddler of the 20th Century - that was Jascha Heifetz. In fact, Heifetz was the greatest violinist of all time.
People will disagree about this for ever, I suppose, but does it matter? These were two very great but very different violinists, both of whom contributed enormously to the world of music during their lifetimes and, through their recordings, when they were over.
Сходите на ипподром,там различия выявляются сильней.
Unrivaled in his time?? This is so biased and ridiculous that it takes away from this hyperbolic documentary. Unrivaled? You must have been kidding, right? Alright, I’ll say his name! Jascha Heifetz!! There, I said it!!
Who's Yehudi? ... *WHO CARES?*