Fled from the USSR in 1983, then her name was banned there and her
parents were prosecuted in Moscow.
Has a son, Mikhael (born in 1991), with conductor Claudio Abbado.
Owns an extremely valuable 1722 Stradivari "Jules Falk" violin, for
which she had to work for over 5 years until she paid off the purchase
price. Now her violin is ten times up in value.
Plays classical music as well as jazz and popular arrangements and
improvisations.
Winner of the 1982 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.