After reaching 50, I began to wonder what the root of life is.

But an innovation, to grow organically from within, has to be based on an intact tradition, so our idea is to bring together musicians who represent all these traditions, in workshops, festivals, and concerts, to see how we can connect with each other in music.

Once something is memorable, it's living and you're using it. That to me is the foundation of a creative society.

When we enlarge our view of the world, we deepen our understanding of our own lives.

One of the things I love about music is live performance.

Music has always been transnational; people pick up whatever interests them, and certainly a lot of classical music has absorbed influences from all over the world.

People will ask, 'Are you famous?' And I always answer, 'My mother thinks so.'