“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 word by Bruno Monsaingeon, who was close to both her and her dazzlingly famous violinist brother, Yehudi. The distinguished French filmmaker has curated this 11-disc box (9 CDs and 2 DVDs), spanning the years from 1933 to 1980, the year before Hephzibah Menuhin’s death at the age of 60. Containing a substantial proportion of world-premiere releases – live performances and TV interviews – Hephzibah Menuhin: Homage documents the pianist in her familiar role as her brother’s duo partner and sheds new light on her prowess as a recitalist and concerto soloist. It also provides fascinating insights into her life, her relationship with Yehudi and her humanitarian beliefs and activities.

Hephzibah Menuhin: Homage comprises 9 CDs and 2 DVDs. The recordings span the years from 1933 to 1980 and a substantial proportion of them are world-premiere releases of live recordings: a third of the audio recordings and the majority of the video recordings (performances and interviews).

In addition to documenting Hephzibah Menuhin’s collaboration with her brother, Bruno Monsaingeon has sought out rare and previously unreleased recordings that shed new light on the scope of stature of her talent – perhaps previously underestimated owing to the circumstances of her life and career (such as the public’s identification of her with her almost overwhelmingly famous brother, her diplomatic and collaborative personality, her move to live in Australia when she get married at a young age, and the time and energy she devoted to her humanitarian work).

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.
• 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).
• 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.
• 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)
• TV interviews with Hephzibah, with Hephzibah and Yehudi, and with Hephzibah, Yehudi and Yaltah.