Conductor Quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen

There is something very special about this part of the world [U.S], which is the openness and the curiosity and the lack of prejudice…

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

Every orchestra I know, every opera house I know, is desperately looking around trying to find new talent, new composing talent, supporting young composers,…

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

After 30 years I have realized the greatest pleasure I can get is to have learnt.

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

Anyone who composes and conducts at the same time is immediately suspect, because he must be faking one or the other.

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

I started conducting lessons and I realized that this is actually something I like doing.

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

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

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

I love a visceral sound, the kind that hits you in the belly.

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

We need new art. Old art cannot do that. It can do lots of other things, and of course humanity hasn't changed that much…

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

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

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

The underlying process in Northern music tends to be slower and continuous, whatever's happening on the surface; in Southern music the underlying process is…

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

The Royal Festival Hall in London is nice; people hang out there. I think this inviting, non-exclusive character is very important.

— Esa-Pekka Salonen

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

— Esa-Pekka Salonen