Cellist Steven Isserlis on the importance of putting your art first

 

It's great to have a successful career, but if the career becomes more important than the music, your soul becomes empty'

'I don't have any regular students, but I do feel a duty to teach as I had so many wonderful teachers in my life'

'My teacher Sándor Végh poured a glass of beer over my head. Putting your students down isn't the way, but it is important to be demanding'

'I would never judge anybody for taking drugs to deal with nerves on stage - whatever makes them play best. I never took drugs myself - perhaps because I knew somebody who died of them'

Cellist Steven Isserlis speaks about music and career for Living The Classical Life.