When I started learning the cello, I fell in love with the instrument because it seemed like a voice – my voice. – Mstislav Rostropovich
Baalbek is so beautiful. It is the heart of beauty in the Middle East – I want to embrace these people with my music. I will try so hard for them. Their president is a Christian, their prime minister is a Muslim. Music is for everyone. – Mstislav Rostropovich
People are craving this great progress in electronics, going after computers, the Internet, etc. Its a giant progress technologically. But they must have a balance of soul, a balance for human beauty. That means art has an important role. – Mstislav Rostropovich
When I celebrated my bar mitzvah, there was no cake. Today, there is no such thing as a bar mitzvah in the United States without a special cake. It can be even more complicated and expensive than a wedding cake, because bar-mitzvah cakes are often based on a particular theme. – Ron Ben-Israel