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.

I love to travel, but sometimes it's nice to stay in one place.

I think the atmosphere of a Prom concert can change your life, in the best way. It's so deep, the feeling you have there. The audience is so close, and there are so many of them, that you feel they are almost embracing you.

In my imagination yes, I remember, when I was six years old, I was conducting all this concert in my house. But now it's real.

A friend gave me a CD of the 'Pathetique' Symphony as a Christmas present. I went home, and I put on the CD expecting to listen to Tchaikovsky. But it started 'ta ta ta taaa.' It was too long for me. I didn't understand it at first, but then I fell in love, in love, in love.

Recently, I went to a disco with friends, and all the young people were saying, 'Dudamel, we want to go to your concert, but it's impossible because it's sold out.' It's really amazing.

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.