Menuhin, Hephzibah
MENUHIN, HEPHZIBAH
MENUHIN, HEPHZIBAH (1920–1981), pianist. Born in San Francisco, Menuhin began to study piano at an early age, giving her first recital in 1928. She continued her studies in Paris with Marcel Ciampi. There, in 1934 she made her debut with her brother Yehudi *Menuhin, thus starting a long partnership in sonata recitals. She toured widely as a recitalist in most of the major cities of Europe and America, visiting Israel with her brother in 1950. Her playing had a clean, clear approach abjuring frills.
Among her recordings are works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bach, Beethoven, and Bartók. In 1938 she married and settled in Australia. In 1954 she moved to Sydney, where she gave concerts and opened her home to anyone in need. Three years later she settled in London. With her second husband, Richard Hauser, she set up the Center for Human Rights and Responsibilities. After her death, a Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Scholarship fund for young pianists was established in conjunction with the NSW State Conservatorium of Music.
bibliography:
Grove online; Baker's Biographical Dictionary (1997); L.M. Rolfe, The Menuhins: A Family Odyssey (1978); T. Palmer, Menuhin: A Family Portrait (1991).
[Naama Ramot (2nd ed.)]