John Carmody [The Australian, 16 December 2005]

THE young woman at the ticket office of Hamburg State Opera in northern Germany has no mixed feelings about the new music director. "We all love Frau Young," she says, handing over the tickets.

When this is mentioned to Simone Young a few days later, the conductor giggles, and adds with a dash of Australian irony: "I should hope so. I'm her boss."