The role of an orchestra in the 21st century isn't just playing, it's about developing future audiences and performers.

I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.

The role of an orchestra in the 21st century isn't just playing, it's about developing future audiences and performers.

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.

I use my hands like a sculptor, to mold and shape the sound I want, to clarify.

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

In some ways I believe music is the more convincing communicator of ideas than words. For instance, we can hear of Kordaly and Bartok and recognise them as Hungarian, but very few of us speak Hungarian, but the music itself speaks to more people.