There will have to be times when I'm not conducting because I'm composing. I haven't solved that problem, and perhaps I never will.

With American orchestras, in particular, because they play in such huge halls, getting a true pianissimo is very hard.

There will have to be times when I'm not conducting because I'm composing. I haven't solved that problem, and perhaps I never will.

I like this idea of identification with the local team. I think it's great. That's what an orchestra should be. It's an orchestra for its hometown, and it serves the people.

I always felt that one day I would have to make the change in my own life, bite the bullet and see what it is to be a composer who conducts rather than the other way around.

Our industry [classic music] has kind of retarded into this kind of endless cover-producing thing, and it's a pity.

There is such a suspicion in today's world of people who do more than one thing, who aren't specialized.