In a World of Short Videos, Bach Asks Us to Slow Down

In a world of scrolling screens, artificial intelligence, and ever-shortening attention spans, the simple act of sitting in a concert hall and listening to a piece of music can be the antidote.

For internationally renowned cellist Mischa Maisky and his daughter, pianist Lily Maisky, music offers something technology can never truly replace: a deeply human experience.

Ahead of their Australian tour, the father-daughter duo spoke to The Epoch Times about their artistic inspirations and the future of classical music in an increasingly digital world.

Mischa Maisky is one of the few musicians to have studied under two of the 20th century’s most celebrated cellists, Mstislav Rostropovich and Gregor Piatigorsky.

His daughter Lily has also established an international career, performing at major venues and recording for labels like Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, and Avanti Classics.

Mischa and Lily Maisky. Courtesy of Bernard Rosenberg

The pair will bring their musical partnership to Australia for the first time as a duo, performing works by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich.

Their tour begins at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on Nov. 6, followed by the Sydney Opera House on Nov. 8, Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane on Nov. 11, and Winthrop Hall in Perth on Nov. 15.

Mysterious and Magical

Mischa, who survived the Soviet Union’s persecution, has left a mark on the classical music scene for over half a century.

“Any great art, be it visual art or, in our case, classical music, can help people nurture their better sides, as opposed to violence, which we unfortunately encounter on a daily basis all over the world,” he told The Epoch Times.

“We are very privileged to have the opportunity to share our passion and our lives devoted to music with millions of people all over the world through live concerts and recordings. It’s a great privilege to make this world a little bit better.”

For Lily, music’s ability to affect people so profoundly remains something of an enigma.

“I think music and art in general are something so important, beautiful, necessary, but also so mysterious,” she said.

She described musicians as vessels through which the works of great composers are brought to life.

“As musicians, we are just there to bring these songs from the composers to people’s ears, and there’s something magical about it, in my opinion,” she said.

In a concert hall, the shared experience of music can dissolve individual isolation, as an entire room holds its breath through every rise and fall.

Her father agreed, saying that music’s greatest power is in its ability to stir the soul.

“I think at the highest level, we hope to succeed in bringing this great music not only to people’s ears, but even deeper than that, to their minds and hearts,” he said.

The Human Connection in an Artificial World

As AI continues to develop and embeds itself in everyday life, Lily predicts a cultural tipping point.

“I think we will get to a point where everything will be so artificial that you will be craving real human experiences,” she said.

She also raised concerns about the effect of digital distractions on young people.

“The younger generation have become accustomed to constant distractions. The [online] videos are getting shorter and shorter, and the attention span goes with it,” she said.

In an age of algorithms competing for attention, sitting through an hour of Brahms or Schubert can itself be an act of resistance: a way of drawing a boundary and saying, my mind belongs to me, not the algorithm.

“Taking a moment to just sit and listen to some beautiful music is very beneficial, and maybe slightly more challenging.”

Yet she rejected the idea that classical music is inherently difficult or inaccessible.

“People think everyone is afraid that it’s complicated and inaccessible, but I don’t agree with that at all,” she said.