SG: Watching films of the legendary cellists of the past (Feuermann, Casals, Piatigorsky) we can see great economy of movement. Cellists today can sometimes appear to be at war with their instruments. What do you think might have brought about this change?

BG: I cannot say there has been that much of a difference. When you listen to Casals you hear his breathing and singing. There are those players so physically involved in performance that their body reacts strongly. Either one has a reaction physically and in one’s demeanor or one can let the music speak. With me there is a direct feeling from my mind into my fingers.

SG: Yesterday we listened to a new recording of cello concertos and you made the comment that the playing was “predictable”. What did you mean by this observation?

BG: I could have duplicated that performance mentally. I certainly knew exactly which notes would be extended and I predicted the shape of the phrases.

SG: So for you it wasn’t musically interesting?

BG: Completely boring. The act of interpreting was gone. He was following some sort of rules. Nothing was spontaneous.

SG: If you were learning a new work today, how would you go about it?

BG: I would certainly want to study the score and use the advantage of having contact with the composer and his wishes for the performance.

In my New York performances, I used to present the work of a gifted young composer who would have the chance for success. I worked with the composer to give it as fine a performance as possible.

SG: What motivates you at age 90 to travel across the oceans, still teaching and working long hours?

BG: I find that working with people of the younger generations brings me back to their ages. I don’t treat myself as an old man of the cello. When I teach, I am the young aspiring cellist. When I finish teaching and have to get up out of my chair, I am reminded of my age.

My interest in transmitting my musical ideas to young artists has sustained me over the years and keeps me involved in the wonderful world of music.