Is style essential to attracting a new audience to classical
music?
Yes. My musical influences are Maria Callas and Vladimir Horowitz, who
come from an era when classical musicians were popular.
Do you ever feel burnt out?
I haven’t questioned it. I said to my parents when I picked up the
violin the first time, “I will not put this down until I die on the
stage with it.”
You said that at age five?
Yes! It was such an immediate connection. I’ll never forget when I
walked onto a stage for the first time. The entire audience was shocked.
What kind of hair did you have then?
Something cute! You know, my mother actually designed her own clothes
when I was young.
Is that where your style comes from?
I think so. And my father was the biggest music lover. I guess it’s only
natural that now I get inspiration for Bach from Allen Ginsberg or for
Mozart from Andy Warhol. In a way I feel Warhol was Mozart.
