In 2001, he was the first non-British person to conduct the Last Night of the Proms, which occurred in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, and included changes to the traditional second half of the concert.
In 2001, he was the only the second non-British person to conduct the Last Night of the Proms (Charles Mackerras had been the first in 1980). This performance occurred in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, and included changes to the traditional second half of the concert.