At the age of 16, something happened with my finger and the doctor told me, you never can be a organist or pianist, so think about what you do with music.

I can go in front of an orchestra. I can go in front of an audience. But if you see me walking through an audience in the reception or through a lot of people, I'm still shy.

Even I had no opportunity to conduct very many concerts after World War II.

I wouldn't say I've changed my mind. I changed some of my natural habits, some of my natural character.

I was different from most young conductors today.

In South America, I heard the 8th Symphony of Beethoven. And the young conductor thought, Beethoven must be heroic. But this is piece which shouldn't be heroic. And this was such a misunderstanding, such a deep misunderstanding.

As I came to New York, it was for me a new beginning. To discover what people are living here. What do they need, what do they expect, what would they like to be the image and the performance of the New York Philharmonic?