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.