It's hard to find an emblem of cultural, national pride that burns as bright as Israel's success in classical music.

I love rap because it talks about pain that comes authentically from the ghetto. It moves me.

I knew at university that medicine was just not for me. I saved many lives by not being a doctor!

A woman's life in the orchestra is not as long as a man's; she is just not as good at 60 as a man is at 60.

In this art form, in any art form, generalities are useless.

In truth, I became a conductor because deep down I wanted to conduct Brahmss four symphonies and Richard Strausss tone poems.

Although I am flexible and ready to take advice, I can't carry an umbrella of thoughts over my head that would distract me and affect my music making.

I feel that the critic and music director should have such a good relationship they can pick up the phone and call each other any time.

There are three orchestras in Munich, all world-quality, in a city of one million. Yet every hall is full.

Rock music is predictable, unless theres great talent involved.

I am jealous of all those people who live on the shore of Dal Lake.

Any person who, with all the sincerity of heart, is in search for God, on land or in the sea, is worthy of respect.

Without education … what is man but a splendid slave, a reasoning savage vacillating between the dignity of an intelligence derived from God and the degradation of passion participated with brutes…

A blank page is no empty space. It is brimming with potential... It is a masterpiece in waiting -- yours.

The Paris Commune was first and foremost a democracy. The government was a body elected by universal suffrage.

When we learn about ourselves, we can evolve.

There's always a race against time. I don't think for one moment that life gets better. How can it? One's body starts to fall apart.

You can waste your whole life trying to be everything to everybody. Pick your passion. And let them pick theirs.

A teenage taste of beer aside, Mitt Romney does not consume alcohol. Which begs the question, will total abstention put his candidacy, perhaps even this great nation in jeopardy?

I'll just have to get it against my favorite team.

Always take hold of things by the smooth handle grateful that they are not worse rather than the rough handle, bitter that they are not better.