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.

Music has just as much to do with movement and body as it does soul and intellect.

My music wouldn't sound the way it does if I hadn't had the experience of conducting.

I actually don't like this term, "classic." It's wrong, but we don't have a better word at the moment.

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.

The music I turn out these days is the kind of music I want to hear myself.

It would be very tempting to say that why paint because we have Michelangelo, we have Leonardo [Da Vinci], we have all these guys. Why waste your time, because most likely you're not going to be on that level anyway.