Hephzibah Menuhin Homage

An independent spirit, a gracious, generous woman who was also deserving of a place among the great pianists of the 20th century." Hephzibah Menuhin is summed up in those words by the distinguished French filmmaker, Bruno Monsaingeon, curator of the box set Hephzibah Menuhin: Homage.

Monsaingeon was close to both Hephzibah and her dazzlingly famous violinist brother, Yehudi. The 11 discs in the set (9 CDs, 2 DVDs) span the years from 1933 to 1980, the year before Hephzibah Menuhin died aged 60. Containing several world premiere releases - live performances and TV interviews - it documents her familiar role as Yehudi's duo partner, sheds new light on her prowess as a soloist, and provides fascinating insights into her life, her relationship with her brother, and her humanitarianism.

"Music is the link to everything that is best in life," she said in a 1969 TV interview. She felt that, as a member of an audience, "You are as safe and sound as can be, provided the artist is doing his best. I think you are in an environment that is good for you, that is good for your spiritual health."

The audio recordings include: Hephzibah and Yehudi performing together. The 1973 recording of Sonata No. 3 by Enescu (who was Yehudi's teacher), from Romanian Radio, is a world premiere release.

o Hephzibah as a soloist in Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and, in the world premiere release of a 1953 recording from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the piano

concerto by the Argentinian composer Juan José Castro (1895-1968).

o Other performers appearing in the collection include the pianists Jeremy Menuhin (Yehudi's son) and Louis Kentner, members of the Amadeus Quartet and Dame Janet

Baker.

The video recordings include: World premiere releases of Hephzibah and Yehudi performing at the United Nations, New York and in TV show Berlin; Hephzibah in TV recital and UNICEF concert in Paris; Mozart's Piano Concerto No 27 with Rudolf Kempe in London.

o Hephzibah, Jeremy and Yaltah (Yehudi and Hephzibah's younger sister) performing Mozart's Concerto for Three Pianos, with Yehudi conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra (BBC, 1966)

o TV interviews with Hephzibah, with Hephzibah and Yehudi, and with Hephzibah, Yehudi and Yaltah.