Music has just as much to do with movement and body as it does soul and intellect.

Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course.

There will have to be times when I'm not conducting because I'm composing. I haven't solved that problem, and perhaps I never will.

Orchestras have become used to the emphasis on the separation of layers, of the ultimate precision and clarity.

As we watch TV or films, there are no organic transitions, only edits. The idea of A becoming B, rather than A jumping to B, has become foreign.

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.

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

Pulse as an active means of expression, Stravinsky and Beethoven are the two masters of that.

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

I discovered that the people of the North are different and there's no way you can make a person from the North similar to a Southerner. They're two different worlds.

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

In the legal respect, after the execution of the supposed incendiaries, the other half of Moscow burned down.

When you are born--what you are born into, the place, the history of the place, how that history mates with your own-- stamps who you are, whatever the pundits of globalisation have to say.

The first step to that kingdom of God within is to find peace within even among chaos.

I design all of the costumes for my movies, actually.

Live constructively and live optimistically.

After all, a job isn't worth doing unless you enjoy it.

A green Christmas makes a fat graveyard.

Obviously, the hit singles get the biggest reaction - that's when you can see people really getting excited.

Fashion exists for women with no taste, etiquette for people with no breeding.

I cannot be a character in a bad movie. I can't be.