I was playing Dvořák today and I was astonished when I found out that the musicians weren’t just accompanying me but they were being creative along with me! I walked onto the stage in a state of exhaustion because I hadn’t slept all night but the musicians were fervent in their playing. They’re easy to fire up, you know. Today I was part of this fantastic orchestra. So there’s a new brand now in Kazan, a reason to come here so you can listen to some excellent music. Now the city has every right to be called a musical center. I’m not comfortable with the word “province”! I believe a person’s capital is the place they feel at home the most. Just like in sports, the musical center is where there is a good teacher.
