I think that I need to learn a lot, a lot.

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.

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

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

I think it's a very important collaboration between the conductor and the orchestra - especially when the conductor is one more member of the orchestra in the way that you are leading, but also respecting, feeling and building the same way for all the players to understand the music.

I have eaten very well in Los Angeles. Marvelously!

Los Angeles is a very special city. It's a great ethnic mix, a great cultural mix.