After building early success on richly romantic and tonally opulent performances, he experienced considerable physical and artistic difficulties caused by overwork during World War II and unfocused early training. Careful practice and study combined with meditation and yoga helped him overcome many of these problems, and he continued to perform to an advanced age, becoming known for profound interpretations of an austere quality.

In 1962 he established the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. In 1965 he recieved an honorary knighthood. During the 1980s he made jazz recordings with Stephane Grappelli. In 1985 he was awarded British citizenship and had his honorary knighthood upgraded to a full one. In 1993 he was made a life peer as Baron Menuhin of Stoke D'Abernon. He died in Berlin.