Lots of really interesting people move to U.S and decide to work here, because of this whole attitude and openness. I'm absolutely convinced that this is just the beginning. In a couple decades we will see an even more dramatic change.

I think truth as an idea should be left to the philosophers and perhaps religious leaders and politicians, and professional people who deal with that idea.

This conducting thing happened. In 1983 I was sucked into this international career, which was a very scary experience.

I'm still disturbed if a chord isn't together, but your priorities change as you get older.

Somehow, conductor as this superhuman conduit between the masters and the masterpieces and the immortals.

I went to work one morning, and outside my door was Cindy Crawford in a black bra, and I thought that very clearly the building is making progress in integrating itself into various layers of our culture.

Our audience, it has been a more difficult process for classical music audiences around the world, and I'm not completely certain why.