In South America, I heard the 8th Symphony of Beethoven. And the young conductor thought, Beethoven must be heroic. But this is piece which shouldn't be heroic. And this was such a misunderstanding, such a deep misunderstanding.

And at the same time, I had my very first concert at the age of 16. I hadn't heard a symphony orchestra before, and I was so deeply impressed I said I have to be a conductor.

I believe so, but at first he must know. He must know in which spirit Beethoven has composed this piece. He must try to study that. And he must find out in which station of life of Beethoven he did.

I now work for a finance company in Luxembourg with projects in South America and the Caribbean.

I felt like I had my head in the sand. I thought, this can't be happening in America. I'm not opposed to someone having a message, no matter how controversial, because that's what America is about. But the venue he [Phelps] picked is just totally inappropriate.

I was stationed in Turkey, Mexico City, South America, Texas, Arizona, so I do know where the Mexican-U.S. border is.