Explain to me, please, why in our literature and art so often people absolutely incompetent in this field have the final word.

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.

If I make a speech, I need a translator. But music does not need a translation. People understand me through the sound. That I think is very important. This is just one planet, like one family.

I listened to Pablo Casals, which was a big change for me. Without hearing Casals, I would never have advanced as I did.

I have a very deep religious belief.

The war years were the most difficult time of my life. There was real famine in Moscow. The water froze inside the houses. There was no heat.