“As you know, unlike any other form of artistic expression, music does not ‘live’ until it is performed.”

“His compositions display real inventiveness, very great talent and a total assimilation of Chinese thinking to European musical concepts.”

“Music is written for one or two main reasons:either to make some intellectual address to the listener,or for the sake of music itself. I feel closer to the second.All my creative inspiration comes from music, the nation of euphony as an embodiment or reflection of the ideal. Aspiration to that ideal is the most important theme of my work.”

“One of the most highly respected composers at work in contemporary Russia.”

“As a composer he recognises no boundaries – musical, commercial,geographical or cultural. His is a way of thinking and composing that is perfectly in tune with the spirit of the times.”

“Today Mansurian is recognized across the world for the integrity of his art: Delicately beautiful, touchingly humane and compassionate without a hint of pathos, with its architectural unity and pithy eloquence subtly intimating its creator’s inner strength.”

“Kancheli’s scores, deeply spiritual in nature, are filled with haunting aural images, varied colours and textures, sharp contrasts and shattering climaxes. His music draws inspiration from Georgian Folklore and sings with a heartfelt, yet refined emotion.”

“When I conduct my own compositions I can try and guide each part of the piece to the ideal,which I created in my head when I composed it ( …) Only I know how long each part of the part should last, how quickly it should develop.”