"A pianist's right hand never has to argue with her left, whereas in a quartet, the integrity of each voice places a unique burden on the others. From the horizontal perspective we are four distinct and highly opinionated voices, from the vertical we are a whole, four interlocking and interdependent voices working in concert."

"The desire to be loved can become a real enemy. It can very much stand in our way when it comes to reaching a truly free interpretation, where you say, 'Bach is like this for me. I love you guys, but I will not compromise, because something more important is at stake.'"

"Having come from the Soviet Union, if you knew the number of pianos I had to try – nothing scares me if something goes wrong […] Most of the venues I’m playing at I know the pianos. Some are nice, others I must struggle with. But if there’s a problem, I can fix it myself."

"When playing in a quartet, one of the most important things is to respect all the individual personalities of each member; they are part of the identity of the group."

"Framed by music, language emerges more clearly, framed by language, music shines deeper. Heart and mind are addressed and revitalized in a beautiful, alternating balance, in short: one gives the other a stage."

"A young quartet is a chaotic mix of influences and aspirations which need to molded over time into a distinct and coherent voice. This process takes a great deal of time, sacrifice and patience, all of which are often in short supply in the most important years of a quartet's formation."