I'm having a blast being the music director at the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. It certainly is challenging for me, but I love challenges.

I love the outdoor festival feeling.

The orchestra confides in me about their music director or their conductor, and I've never seen a conductor that's been liked by everyone.

I'm happy if my music is being downloaded, whether it's legally or illegally.

I happen to love Saint-Saens in general. I think he's a brilliant composer and sometimes underrated in a way because people like to pass him off as fluffy and not being serious.

Art and music is part of what it means to be a human being. And if you're neglecting that, you're basically ignoring a huge side of the brain and a huge side of what it means to be human.