Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
Initially parents, then teachers Amaryllis Fleming, Johannes Goritzki, Sandor Vegh, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
Coping with self-promotion, chasing work, persuading the world that chamber music matters
Which performances/recordings are you most proud of?
Hard to say. I don’t listen much to my own recordings. I’m happy and honoured to have been able to record so much wonderful music music, especially the piano trio repertoire, with great musicians.
Which particular works/composers do you think you perform best?
I feel closest to the works of Beethoven and Bach
What do you do off stage that provides inspiration on stage?
Nothing. The inspiration comes from the music. Either comes or it doesn’t. I can’t control it.
How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?
It’s mostly not my choice, but rather depends on many shifting and often conflicting factors such as time available and promotors’ desires. If I do have a choice, there is usually something that I’ve been burning to do for a while but haven’t yet had the opportunity.
Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?
Anywhere beautiful, not too big, intimate, with a favourable acoustic and near some nice restaurants. I like the Wigmore Hall of course.
What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music’s audiences?
Early state-provided education and exposure to all types of music including classical, with an emphasis on taking part.
What is your most memorable concert experience?
There’ve been too many – I can’t remember.
As a musician, what is your definition of success?
Interesting question. The answer has two parts: one – an ability to communicate with and move at least some of your audience; and two – feeling that you have fulfilled at least some of your ambition to achieve the above.
What advice would you give to young/aspiring musicians?
Focus on the above goals and be prepared to fail.
What’s the one thing in the music industry we’re not talking about which you think we should be?
Classical music is not elitist and should never be presented as such; however it can’t be appreciated to its full value in one sitting or small doses. It’s something that has to be experienced over time. The more time one devotes to it the more the experience is amplified. Like any art form, its depths are sometimes unfathomable and difficult to comprehend. It needs persistence, full attention and not dumbing down. Not everyone has the will or ability to do that.
What’s next? Where would you like to be in 10 years?
Still active and healthy
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To see meaning in most of what you do
What is your most treasured possession?
My health
What is your present state of mind?
Chaotic
Richard Lester appears both on a modern cello as part of Gould Piano Trio, and also on a baroque cello with Elizabeth Kenny and James Toll in a Baroque Coffee Concert at this year’s Winchester Chamber Music Festival which runs from 3-6 May. Find out more
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