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

I love a visceral sound, the kind that hits you in the belly.

The biggest difference between U.S and most European big cities is that in a place like London, for instance, there are five orchestras, and there's a bloody competition between these five orchestras.

I started conducting lessons and I realized that this is actually something I like doing.

Anyone who composes and conducts at the same time is immediately suspect, because he must be faking one or the other.

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.

Conducting was just something that happened by fluke.