A music director cannot and should not be chosen on the basis of a first date. It is not so difficult to make a good impression with a single appearance, usually containing some of a conductor's party pieces, works they have performed successfully many times before.

We need music to restore the human spirit

I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.

There is no 'perfect' in music. If I ever came off the stage and felt it could not be better, it would then be time to quit.

In some ways I believe music is the more convincing communicator of ideas than words. For instance, we can hear of Kordaly and Bartok and recognise them as Hungarian, but very few of us speak Hungarian, but the music itself speaks to more people.

I've come to the conclusion that a long personal relationship is next to impossible for me. Ultimately, music is a possessive mistress.

We are a global society, and one does not have to be from Germany to give a great performance of Beethoven.