When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice - my voice.

I like coming to the United States because the United States played an important role in my life.

People are craving this great progress in electronics, going after computers, the Internet, etc. It's a giant progress technologically. But they must have a balance of soul, a balance for human beauty. That means art has an important role.

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.

You know creators, composers, need a palette for life, a color for life.

I never studied, but I had the best teachers.

Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.