Pablo Casals, at 95 years old, was answering questions one day. One of them went like this.
“Mr Casals, you’re the greatest cellist of the 20th Century, perhaps of all-time, and your career has been nothing short of spectacular. Why, at the age of 95, do you still practice 6 hours a day?
Casals answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.”
Pau Casals i Defilló (December 29, 1876 – October 22, 1973), known during his professional career as Pablo Casals was a Spanish cellist and conductor. He made many recordings throughout his career, of solo, chamber, and orchestral music, also as conductor, but Casals is perhaps best remembered for the recording of the Bach Cello Suites he made from 1936 to 1939.
Casals was an ardent supporter of the Spanish Republican government. After its defeat in 1939, Casals vowed not to return to Spain until democracy had been restored, although he did not live to see the end of the Franco dictatorial regime.
Thank you Dwight for emailing this quote to me a few years back.
