How do you mostly listen to music?
Mostly when I’m travelling, on my iPhone with noise-cancelling headphones. I have a large music library with many contrasting genres, so sometimes – as it’s difficult to decide what I want to listen to – I put my songs on shuffle and each one is a surprise.
What was the first ever record or cd you bought?
Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions. He’s one of my favourite musicians and I never get tired of his music - it will live forever!
What was the last piece of music you bought?
Annie Lennox’s latest, Nostalgia. She’s another of my favourite musicians and I think this album is one of her best. She brings so many new flavours to old tunes.
If you found yourself with six months free to learn a new instrument, what would you choose?
Guitar. I always envied people who could play this beautiful instrument. It’s such a great sound when it accompanies the violin.
Is applauding between movements acceptable?
It’s both acceptable and very welcome. When people react spontaneously to music that moves them, they should be able to express it. I’m always happy to hear the audience’s reaction.
What single thing would improve the format of the classical concert?
I think they should be more lively. Lots of people are afraid to come to classical concerts because they think there are many rules that they must abide by.
What’s been your most memorable live music experience as an audience member?
There are so many I could name. But off the top of my head, a couple of years ago, I heard the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie with Paavo Järvi conducting the Schumann Symphony No 3, and the whole orchestra played as though it was one instrument. It was just breathtaking.
We’re giving you a time machine: what period, or moment in musical history, would you travel to and why?
It has to be the 70s. Such amazing musicians were making their best music at this time like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, just to name a few.
Which conductor or performer of yester-year do you most wish you could have worked with?
Carlos Kleiber. Even though he performed very rarely and I never went to any of his concerts, I have a few recordings of his. His famous concert which was filmed in Amsterdam (the Beethoven Symphonies) is one of my favourite concerts to watch. I think it would’ve been amazing to work with him – he was an incredible musician, his way of making music was so exceptional and extraordinary I’ve been mesmerised watching videos of him conducting.
What, in your opinion, is the best new piece written in the past 50 years?
It’s not possible to say! For me, art and music are incredibly subjective and depends entirely on the listener, the time etc. For example I like very much the music of Arvo Pärt, but there are lots of amazing pieces of music from the last 50 years that are not classical. The list would end up being very long!
What’s the most overrated classical work? - is there a warhorse whose appeal you really don’t relate to?
For my taste, I think it’s the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. I much prefer his symphonies.
What do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing out loud in the shower, but I constantly have music going round in my head, although never with words or lyrics, only the melody. Sometimes it’s difficult because when I like something very much but it gets stuck in my head for days and I grow sick of it!
Viktoria Mullova and Katia Labèque open Southbank Centre’s International Chamber Music Series at St John’s Smith Square, London on 6 November.
