I wanted to play my violin and have my musical expression through the instrument. But then I was really young when I had my first opportunity to conduct.

With an orchestra you are building citizens, better citizens for the community.

You learn a lot about each other from a tour, musically and humanly.

My material life is simple.

My relationship with the Philharmonia Orchestra brought me many times to London and I will always reflect positively on that early period of development with them - their patience, their warmth, their dedication.

For me, Venezuela is very important, not just because it's a place I go to conduct, but because my family is there - my wife, my parents and my musical family.

It's not that people don't like classical music. It's that they don't have the chance to understand and to experience it.