Music is a fundamental human right

You have to believe that things will happen, you have to work and love what you're doing.

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.

The challenge is not so much to change the sound. The challenge is to connect and to create something special.

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 a physical challenge. It's a spiritual challenge. I'm studying almost every day a different symphony, not returning to any one for a week.

I set out to create a means whereby music could be a way of vindicating the rights of the masses.