Music

In the minds of many people, classical composers are all either old and grey or bewigged and dead. Well, say hello to the face of the 21st century composer! Lera Auerbach is a classical composer who, at barely more than 30 years of age, has already published more than 100 works, and who could probably do a photo spread for Elle magazine if she felt like it. Nonetheless, it is Auerbach's talent, imagination and compelling life story that makes her work so alluring and intriguing. In this interview with Uncle Dave Lewis, Auerbach discusses her views on the relationship between composing and performing, the rough-hewn orchestrations of Modest Mussorgsky, and her defection from the USSR in 1991.