Riccardo Muti

You have to be able to enthral and persuade at the same time.

Nobility of spirit has more to do with simplicity than ostentation, wisdom rather than wealth, commitment rather than ambition.

A conductor should guide rather than command.

If I make a move, like raise my eyebrows, some critic says I'm doing Nicholson. What am I supposed to do, cut off my eyebrows?

Most detective story readers are an educated audience and know there are only a certain number of plots. The interest lies in what the writer does with them.

Channel 4 are a great bunch of people to work with and the crew are lovely. Working at ITV was like being in the court of Caligula.