I'm just a one-instrument player. I have been known to play a blender, but I basically play - just play the violin.

I'm now doing three things: concerts, conducting, and teaching, and they each support each other. I learn to see things from different perspectives and listen with different ears. The most important thing that you need to do is really listen.

I don't feel that the conductor has real power. The orchestra has the power, and every member of it knows instantaneously if you're just beating time.

I don't walk on stage unless I'm playing with a orchestra. But when I play a recital, I'm sort of on a scooter, and I just scoot very quickly on stage, and they're saying, wow, look at this. He's so fast.

I couldn't only do one thing--I don't want the personal hell of oneness.

For every child prodigy that you know about, at least 50 potential ones have burned out before you even heard about them.

Just imagine yourself in a wheelchair. Go through the building. If there's a place you can't go in, it's not accessible.