Daniel Harding: The 5-Minute Interview
'I hope people will judge me on my performance, not on my age'
Daniel Harding, 30, is opening the season at La Scala today with a performance of Mozart's "Idomeneo"
To be the first British conductor and the youngest to inaugurate a season at La Scala is...
I am very proud but I hope people will judge me on the quality of the performance, not on my age or nationality.
I'm most looking forward to...
A great team of singers, a wonderful orchestra and a beautiful production and, like everyone else, I'm looking forward to enjoying the show.
If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be...
Grabbing a nap in the back of a cab.
A phrase I use far too often is...
"Sorry I'm late."
I wish people would take more notice of...
Moving out of the way at the top of escalators.
The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was...
Finding I could afford a house and that someone let me buy it.
A common misperception of me is...
That I conduct everything fast.
I'm not a politician but...
I don't want to say anything undiplomatic.
I'm very bad at...
Giving clever answers to impromptu questions.
In moments of weakness I...
Give in to the usual vices.
You know me as a conductor, but in truer life I'd have been...
A guy who always had ideas but did nothing about them.
The best age to be is...
A baby because it's the only time when people actively encourage you to sleep longer.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is:
Keep an open mind.
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