If there were no rules about when to applaud, we in the audience would have the right response almost always.

Personal life
Ax lives in New York City with his wife pianist Yoko Nozaki and has two children Joey and Sarah. He is considered one of the best known concert pianists of the 21st century. Ax began to study piano at the age of six; his father was his first piano teacher.

Emanuel Ax (born 8 June 1949) is a Grammy-winning Polish-American Jewish parentage classical pianist. He is considered one of the best known concert pianists of the 21st century.