His Difficult Early Years

Janos Starker reflects on his difficult early years and how music was an integral part of his life, even due to the disruptions of war, including a period of over a year when he couldn’t even see a cello. His early success was due to his level being far beyond that of most others, with only a few exceptions. He achieved this without the support and resources available to many musicians today. Starker emphasizes that surviving the hardships of his youth gave him a sense of obligation to make sure his survival wasn’t in vain. True musicians are those who cannot go a day without thinking about or making music. Music was his unquestioned purpose in life from a young age. He recalls knowing at just nine years old that he would dedicate his life to music, and even during periods of forced labor as an electrician, his mind was always focused on music.