In truth, I became a conductor because deep down I wanted to conduct Brahms's four symphonies and Richard Strauss's tone poems.
I sometimes feel it is to my disadvantage that I have not conducted the Cleveland Orchestra or the Boston or Chicago symphonies, but then I have had to sacrifice something in order to have enough time with my orchestras.
Wagner's philosophy had absolutely nothing to do with Bruckner. Bruckner hadn't written a single word against Jews. Wagner's book on the Jews was one of the most infamous books of the 19th century.
I respect the Indian government for the fact that there are no settlements in Kashmir.
I'm very much tied to the state of Israel, but I am against their policy of settlements in Palestine.
As long as they keep building settlements, the world will be anti-Israeli.
