They are representations of many shared hours of collaboration between us all. That's the real nature of the relationship the orchestra and I are trying to build.

Extreme volume in music very often disguises a lack of actually important content.

They are representations of many shared hours of collaboration between us all. That's the real nature of the relationship the orchestra and I are trying to build.

When I first was conducting as guest conductor in Europe 25 years ago, I would propose doing American pieces and grudgingly it would be accepted from time to time.

One of my central maxims is how a major part of what a conductor tries to do is get a large group of people to agree on where "now" actually is.

What happens when the music stops? Where does it go?

The world changes when there's music in it.