This conducting thing happened. In 1983 I was sucked into this international career, which was a very scary experience.

My music wouldn't sound the way it does if I hadn't had the experience of conducting.

The act of conducting in itself, of waving my arms in the air and being in charge, I didn't miss. I missed the sensual pleasure of being in contact with music.

There is such a suspicion in today's world of people who do more than one thing, who aren't specialized.

I feel very free and very happy to be a composer.

With American orchestras, in particular, because they play in such huge halls, getting a true pianissimo is very hard.