Most Beethoven symphonies require 80 or more instruments, and the late romantics even more.

If we perform the romantic repertoire we need more musicians.

The awful thing about a conductor becoming geriatric is that you seem to become more desirable, not less.

Music is a continuum and the modern and avant-garde composers of today will be part of the standard repertoire 30 years from now.

Beethoven's symphonies are not 'relaxing.' They are the most exciting things that have ever been created by a human being.

I approach everything as chamber music. Even with Beethoven symphonies, I lead from the violin and basically encourage the orchestra to think of it as a giant string quartet.