Star violinist David Garrett on family planning, his obsession with cleaning – and his childhood under his father’s thumb.
Nice to see David Garrett, 41, again! Although not yet live on stage – his next tour is planned for autumn – but to talk about his latest work, a book. It’s also about music – and the 41-year-old’s memories of his often arduous rise to superstardom and women’s darling.
David Garrett: This is where he stores his violins
GALA: Could you actually love a woman more than your violin?
I hope so! The violin remains an object – a woman is a wonderful human being. Well, ideally. (laughs)
Which has obviously come true for you.
Yes, I’ve been with my girlfriend for almost three years and I’m inseparable. But I won’t reveal your name.
Are you planning marriage and children?
Here, too, we have the same polarity and take it easy. At the moment this is not an issue.
But whoever cleans at home is clear: you. They like to cheer. And that despite your valuable hands.
I don’t have to rest my hands, I’m not made of sugar! But it’s true: I like it when it’s clean.
For me, cleaning is almost meditative
In addition, I come from a normal background and don’t know it any other way than that you take care of things yourself. Everything I afford today, be it a chair or a table, I have worked for myself. I see it as a sign of respect that I cherish and care for things.
Like your violins.
O yes. Some are in the bank vault, others at my house. It changes depending on what I’m doing. On a classical tour, for example, I only use the highest quality of my six wonderful Italian violins.
Have you ever thrown one out of anger?
Are you of the devil? (laughs) In all these decades it has never crossed my mind. My love is not only for music, but also for instruments. The violin is part of me. And I wouldn’t hit myself either.
Can your violin comfort you, for example when you’re heartbroken?
Unfortunately, the music doesn’t help either. Everyone has to walk through the valley of tears after a breakup – including me.
How many hours do you practice a day?
Mandatory program is two and a half, three hours. Everything about it is freestyle.
And if you don’t feel like it?
There are days when the weather lures me outside too. Then I’ll just play when I’m back home. I can’t let it go.
I would not put any pressure on my children
What percentage of your success is work and what percentage is talent?
95 percent work. Many have talent. But the associated discipline only very few.
How do you get that kind of perseverance?
Since I was four years old there has been no other option for me. I was taught the discipline.
Would you also support your own children in this way – let’s call it: encourage them?
Funding is a nice term: I would definitely fund it. Would I apply pressure? No. Does it take pressure to be very good very early on? Yes, definitely.
Was this pressure sometimes too much for you?
I wanted to be successful myself. But my father was very behind on me making things work. Behind every gifted child is an ambitious parent. After a little distance we get along wonderfully again.
Appearance is also important to you, your long hair is your trademark. A hairdresser messed them up by dyeing them so much that they fell out in bunches.
For half a year I couldn’t do anything with my hair, apart from pampering it with treatments. But today everything is fine again. Wash once in two days, put conditioner in, and the hairstyle is in place.
In the book you describe one of your hobbies: you like to look for a flat.
Preferably in New York. When I go for a walk on the weekend, I tap the StreetEasy app. It shows me whether there is a house or apartment to visit somewhere nearby. I enjoy these appointments, it feels like going to a museum but without the art.
Besides New York or Berlin, you also live on Mallorca. What do you appreciate so much about this island?
The sun. The nature. And the air! I live in a house with a sea view. It grounds me to be outside a lot and to look at the water from the terrace with the first coffee in my hand in the morning. It just feels very peaceful.