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

The sort of commercial parameters of classical music changed after the [World War II] , and the whole industry became more backward-looking.

The philharmonic became such a journey and adventure in my life, and a deeply satisfying thing.

After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.

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

Conducting is intensely social. You work with a hundred people every day. You collaborate, you try to focus their thoughts, you try to give them a concept, you try to inspire them, and it's actually exhausting.

Los Angeles is just a more open place. The way L.A. functions is that people give you a forum. They say, Show us what you can do.