Valentina Lisitsa

"It’s only when you stop trying to find faults and start doing something constructive that you will survive … It’s just good for you as a human not to dwell on your disasters."

"Memorising notes as one memorises a speech in foreign language is bound to lead to memory lapses. YouTube is an invaluable tool; you can get to study your repertory with the best pianists of all times…"

"Would-be musicians are starving themselves emotionally and intellectually just to be perfect."

"I’m nothing but a conduit. The music goes though my ears, my fingers… Composer is a god. Composer creates music. We’re performers. We’re just passing it on."

"If the question is purely ‘original’ works, no transcriptions, then Beethoven."