Andris Nelsons

You have a great result if the orchestra trusts the conductor, and the conductor trusts the orchestra. ”

It's a dream to be its conductor. Sometimes I think, 'My God, I can't believe it.' It's a dream which came true. ”

You must take care of your family, respect the music, and work intensely. Health and family come first, and then you can make much better music. ”

I think first thing and the most important thing, for me, is that Boston becomes my musical home, my musical family. ”

Wagner always opens you a second breath, and then you go on, and you are absolutely into his musical world, and you can't stop, and you can listen for four hours, five hours, six hours, and then you are like in his mystical hands of his music. He's such a great poet of music. ”

Though involvement in music and the arts can't cure all the ills of society, I do believe that the inspiration they provide has the potential to help us reflect, at times, on the better angels of our natures. ”

I'm sure the atmosphere at Tanglewood and the space there and nature - I think it absolutely fits Wagner's music. ”

The Soviet Union had only one party. You couldn't express yourself freely; you couldn't admit belief in God. And yet this terrible regime understood that human beings have to express themselves, through music, even at a bad level. All kids studied music automatically, just as they did maths or languages or sport. ”

The music of Bach is so timeless, so fulfilling. You don't feel like you have to be in front of it. The music has everything, and you are there to find the balance when you conduct. You don't have to give too much of your individuality. It's Bach, so it's dangerous to get in the way. ”

Shostakovich was one of the great symphonists of all time, and maybe the last great symphonist. ”