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.

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

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.

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

There is too much emphasis on technical perfection nowadays, and not enough on what music is actually about - irony, joy, human suffering, love.

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.

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