April 22, 2016 would have been the 100th Birthday of violin legend Yehudi Menuhin, and Daniel Hope dedicates a complete album to his former mentor and close friend
22nd April 2016 would have been the 100th Birthday of violin legend Yehudi Menuhin, and Daniel Hope dedicates a complete album to his former mentor and close friend.
After fleeing from the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and ending up in England, Hopes mother was offered a job as a secretary to no-one less than Yehudi Menuhin, and later became his manager. Daniel Hope says about him: Yehudi Menuhin is the reason I became a violinist. I was privileged to know Menuhin all my life as he used to say, I fell into his lap, as a baby of two years age.
Menuhin often called himself my musical grandfather. Now, in celebration of what would have been his centenary, my friends and I can finally pay our respects to this great man, in a way I am sure he would have loved. Daniel Hope.
This new album is a beautiful selection of works, mostly commissioned by/for Yehudi Menuhin: Takemitsus Nostalghia, Reichs Duet for 2 Violins and String Orchestra and Henzes Adagio were all commissioned by Menuhin.
Daniel Hope himself commissioned El-Khouris Unfinished Journey commemorating Menuhins passing.
The Vivaldi Concerto RV 522 for 2 Violins was the piece Hope and Menuhin played together many times in the past. Additionally the album features brand new arrangements of famous pieces, such as Elgars Salut D Amour and Knümann s Rumänisch.