I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.

The life of any musician really doesn't fall into a normal schedule at all. Every week there are different rehearsals, different days and nights of performances, so we don't have a particular pattern that we can follow. For a conductor, it is a little bit worse because we have to allow for traveling.

I am usually cooking at least four times a week if I am home. The easiest thing that I do a lot is gazpacho. It's simple and it tastes best if you let it sit over night in the refrigerator... I don't want anybody near me when I am cooking. If I am going to make a mistake, it has to be my fault.

I have been long associated with British music. I have favoured it as my alternate music next to American.

How could a New Yorker possibly take something called the Hollywood String Quartet seriously?

I'm beginning to see that just knowing the piece is not enough. Having a clear technique is not enough. Having a broad repertory is not enough. I want desperately to get past all those things.

Growing up in Hollywood, like I did, I have a passion and a love for the movies, so I go to the cinema all the time.