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

I came to Moscow when I was 5 years old from Baku. To walk all night in Moscow will bring back my youth to me.

Baalbek is so beautiful. It is the heart of beauty in the Middle East - I want to embrace these people with my music. I will try so hard for them. Their president is a Christian, their prime minister is a Muslim. Music is for everyone.

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.

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.

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

You must play for the love of music. Perfect technique is not as important as making music from the heart.