I try to get the personality of the person involved. I like writing concertos because I can tailor the works like a good suit of clothes, to show off the things they do well and that they show off. |
I won't start a piece until I meet with the person, hear them play and hear what they like. |
Now, very few composers write for themselves. |
This is the first time this has happened that I didn't know how [the soloist] sounded. |