It is my aim, my destination in life to make the cello as beloved an instrument as the violin and piano.

It is my aim, my destination in life to make the cello as beloved an instrument as the violin and piano.

I never studied, but I had the best teachers.

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

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

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

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.