The virtuoso element in jazz playing, all those very fast runs in the upper extremes, simply doesn't appeal to me. That's why I don't want to make my concerto "virtuosic" in the sense of a technical show-off. I want a beautiful sound and a melodic and lyrical line. I am more interested in the way someone can play musically.

What was once underground is now coming to the surface.

I know that John Adams has had a very hard time directing French ensembles.

There's another way of making music, by touching the lives and feelings of ordinary people.

People like Arvo Part would not have been taken seriously 20 years ago.

I currently spend a lot of time thinking about orchestration and every detail of a piece.

I work very fast, keeping the ideas flowing but making sure they come out the way I intended.