I'm not particularly lucid after a concert. I'm not very lucid before, either.

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

My first strong musical memory is of the Villa-Lobos Sixth Quartet which my parents were rehearsing. I remember that it reminded me of big teddy bears dancing around.

A music director cannot and should not be chosen on the basis of a first date. It is not so difficult to make a good impression with a single appearance, usually containing some of a conductor's party pieces, works they have performed successfully many times before.

An orchestra knows during the first two minutes of the first rehearsal whether or not they are going to enjoy the person on the podium.

Randy Newman and I grew up together in Los Angeles. We are both products of the film studio era. Randy is one of the great songwriters of our time and one of the fun people to be with.

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