> BBC Music Magazine: What kind of MP3 player do you use?

> Stephen Hough: I've switched from Blackberry to iPhone, so now I'll have downloads on iTunes that I haven't had access to before. But generally, I prefer not to listen to a lot of music when I'm on the move; I think it's more important to have silence so that when music appears, it's actually something special.

> BBC MM: We hear you're a fan of the CD. Isn't it time to swap CD's for downloads?

> Hough: I'm waiting for the ideal situation to have all my music in a virtual place. When iPods become large enough, then I may look at converting my entire CD library to downloads. In the meantime, there is a permanence about classical music, something precious about it that makes me want to be able literally to hold on to it.

> BBC MM: But isn't it easier to choose music from an iTunes playlist, rather than searching through discs?

> Hough: Yes, but you can get to the point where you have too much choice. If I had every piece of classical music ever written available at the touch of the button, then I would become so weary of it I would probably never want to listen to it again.

> // I hope Steve de Mena doesn't have a conniption reading this!! :-)