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

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

The cello is a hero because of its register - its tenor voice. It is a masculine instrument, whereas the violin is feminine because of its soprano pitch. When the cello enters in the Dvorak Concerto, it is like a great orator.

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.

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.

I never studied, but I had the best teachers.