Capitalism, Communism ... It's All

You Must Play For The Love Of Music. Perfect Technique Is Not As Important As Making Music From The Heart.

In 1948 The First Severe Crash Occurred In My Life When Stalin Put Out His Decree On Formalism. There Was A Bulletin Board In The Moscow Conservatory. They Posted The Decree, Which Said Shostakovichs Compositions And Prokofievs Were No Longer To Be Played.

All My Life I Wanted To Play Music With Love To Every Member Of The Audience.

The Cello Is A Hero Because Of Its Register - Its Tenor Voice. It Is A Masculine Instrument, Whereas The Violin Is Feminine Because Of Its Soprano Pitch. When The Cello Enters In The Dvorak Concerto, It Is Like A Great Orator.

There Is Too Much Emphasis On Technical Perfection Nowadays, And Not Enough On What Music Is Actually About - Irony, Joy, Human Suffering, Love.