János Starker on Interpretation

János Starker discusses his approach to interpretation and teaching. He reflects on his role as both a performer and teacher, emphasizing the importance of conveying musical messages not as personal interpretations, but as true to the composers’ intentions—particularly for composers like Beethoven and Brahms. However, he notes that while respecting their works, he is not trying to recreate how they would have wanted to hear it in their time. Instead, Starker interprets these works through a modern lens, recognizing that he is a 21st-century artist with different experiences and perspectives. Starker’s viewpoint integrates his deep respect for tradition with the understanding that interpretation must adapt to contemporary contexts and experiences.