In the range of music that we play - roughly 300 years' worth-there really are more similarities than differences.

The underlying process in Northern music tends to be slower and continuous, whatever's happening on the surface; in Southern music the underlying process is always faster.

I think if you would like to describe composing as an act with one word, "slow" would be the word.

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

The Royal Festival Hall in London is nice; people hang out there. I think this inviting, non-exclusive character is very important.

Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course.

Every orchestra I know, every opera house I know, is desperately looking around trying to find new talent, new composing talent, supporting young composers, supporting new ideas, supporting new ways of getting the message across.