My life as a professional musician is a joyless exercise in futility.

Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence.

Quiet is the absence of sound. Silence is the presence of silence.

If the audience doesn't hear what is going on, is it going on?

Usually people think that it is the musicians who create the music, but in fact it is music who creates the musicians.

What has changed in 40 years? It’s very simple: 40 years ago there was a market economy. Today there is a market society – today everything, including ethics, has a price.

A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable.

Understanding is simple. Knowing is complicated.

I'm not really interested in music. Music is just a means of creating a magical state.

Music so wishes to be heard that it sometimes calls on unlikely characters to give it voice.

We know others to the extent that we know ourselves.

Death walks faster than the wind and never returns what he has taken.

When we accomplish one thing, our ego wants to bask in the glory, though our soul is ready to move on to the next.

Business can be a source of progressive change.

Is that a birthday? 'tis, alas! too clear; 'Tis but the funeral of the former year.

When the student has her voice under complete control, it is safe to take up the lyric repertoire of Mendelssohn, Old English Songs, etc. How simple and charming they are!

Many a man who has known himself at ten forgets himself utterly between ten and thirty.

It is good to appreciate that life is now. Whatever it offers, little or much, life is now – this day – this hour.

Everything really needs to be paraben-free for me. I mean, because if I’m going to smoke cigarettes, then I need to be aware of all the other bullshit I’m putting into my body.

Hope is never silent.

. The key to all of that is keeping hold of humility and keeping hold of the people around you, and making sure you stay grounded with your family and friends.