Prof Brian Foster, who heads the particle physics department at Oxford University, combined with prominent London-born violinist Jack Liebeck in a unique duet of lecture and concert devoted to "Einstein's Universe", at Otago University's St David lecture theatre on Wednesday night.
This was the last of six lectures and performances by the two men during a national tour organised by the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Prof Foster, an award-winning physicist, discussed Einstein's famous theory of relativity, and how the discovery of radioactivity had led, through the development of particle accelerators, to the foundation of quantum mechanics.
The lecture was punctuated by musical interludes related to Einstein, including Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, some of Einstein's favourite music.
The presentation ended with a duet for two violins by Mozart in which lecturer and soloist joined forces, paying tribute to Einstein's lifelong love of chamber music.
Einstein had come to his fondness of chamber music through playing the violin, Prof Foster said in an interview.
In some respects, Einstein was a "strange man", who sometimes found it difficult to communicate and to show his feelings on a social level, Prof Foster said.
Chamber music had helped him find a way to communicate with people, including with fellow musical performers.
The revolutionary impact of Einstein's ideas had resulted not only from his genius, but from other factors, including singlemindedness in pursuing his ideas, Prof Foster said.
Einstein was not really part of the science establishment.
His courage in speaking out was also important, Prof Foster said.
"He didn't mind saying things that other people hardly dared to say."
