To my mind and ear, there is simply nothing that compares to the musical sophistication of a late Beethoven, Bartok, Schubert or Brahms work for minimal forces.

An orchestra knows during the first two minutes of the first rehearsal whether or not they are going to enjoy the person on the podium.

Growing up in Hollywood, like I did, I have a passion and a love for the movies, so I go to the cinema all the time.

How could a New Yorker possibly take something called the Hollywood String Quartet seriously?

I don't really think about retiring. I will retire just before people start saying, 'I knew Leonard Slatkin when he conducted well.'

I have been long associated with British music. I have favoured it as my alternate music next to American.

I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.

I use my hands like a sculptor, to mold and shape the sound I want, to clarify.

I'll know I'm reaching the total American market when I'm asked to do a video for MTV.

I'm not particularly lucid after a concert. I'm not very lucid before, either.

I've come to the conclusion that a long, personal relationship is next to impossible for me. Ultimately, music is a possessive mistress.

The role of an orchestra in the 21st century isn't just playing, it's about developing future audiences and performers.

There is no 'perfect' in music. If I ever came off the stage and felt it could not be better, it would then be time to quit.

There's not an orchestra in the world that doesn't have weaknesses. None of us can play everything well. The repertoire is just too big.

We are a global society, and one does not have to be from Germany to give a great performance of Beethoven.

A music director cannot and should not be chosen on the basis of a first date. It is not so difficult to make a good impression with a single appearance, usually containing some of a conductor's party pieces, works they have performed successfully many times before.

I am usually cooking at least four times a week if I am home. The easiest thing that I do a lot is gazpacho. It's simple and it tastes best if you let it sit over night in the refrigerator... I don't want anybody near me when I am cooking. If I am going to make a mistake, it has to be my fault.

I'm beginning to see that just knowing the piece is not enough. Having a clear technique is not enough. Having a broad repertory is not enough. I want desperately to get past all those things.

In some ways I believe music is the more convincing communicator of ideas than words. For instance, we can hear of Kordaly and Bartok and recognise them as Hungarian, but very few of us speak Hungarian, but the music itself speaks to more people.

On the corner of 57th and 7th Avenue sits the most famous concert hall in the world. No less a figure than when Tchaikovsky led the first performances in 1891. Virtually every major artist has performed there. There is simply no place like it. The first time I stepped foot in Carnegie Hall was in 1964.