Terry Gross

This is actually from a DVD outtake from your show.

So tell us about this song and when you think it was recorded.

Okay, so this is Bessie Tomaszewski, recorded approximately when?

Wow, okay, here we go.

So what kind of music did your grandmother introduce you to?

That's really interesting.

One of the things you describe her having said to you when you were young is, you're more like me than your parents are.

They're more conventional.

And you have more of a creative spirit or something.

Did you take that to heart?

So when your grandmother died and you were, I don't know, 16 or 17, was there music at her funeral?

So you mentioned some advice in your show that your grandmother gave you about when you're on stage, you have to remember that the people in the uppermost balcony are the people who paid the least but are enjoying it the most.

And you have to, even if you're whispering, you have to make sure that those people can hear you.

How has that affected you as a conductor?

That's really great.

Michael Tilson Thomas, thank you.

It's been great.

This is Fresh Air.

I'm Terry Gross.

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