I think that today, in Europe at least, people don't tend to think so much about the instrument that is producing the music; they are more interested to see if the musician actually has something to say.
Michala PetriDenmark is, of course is very much like Germany: in terms of culture, the same kind of thinking, etc.
Michala PetriYou need to express things stronger today, more so than in the Baroque time, and you need to expand the expressiveness of the instrument.
Michala PetriI've always been very inspired by people who can make their instrument sound very natural.
Michala PetriMy father is a violinist and my mother is a pianist, so I've been hearing music all my life. I started playing at three and had my first music teacher at five.
Michala PetriIt was quite unusual to use the recorder as a concert instrument. But my mother, a pianist, actually helped me a lot by assuming that anything done on the piano can easily be done on the recorder! She helped me with technique and was just as critical about my playing as she was with her own. I think that has been one of my fortunes.
Michala Petri