1990 | 2000 Houston - Creating a World Class Orchestra and Championing 20th Century Music

• 1990 - Undertakes the first ever of many highly acclaimed international tours together with the Houston Symphony
• 1990 - Commissions every year at least two new works for his orchestra and begins to present a new opera production each year with the Houston Symphony at the Houston Grand Opera
• September 27, 1994 - Named Music Director of the Ravinia Festival (Illinois, USA)
• September 1998 - Assumes post of Chief Conductor of the NDR Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg (Germany)
• Summer 1999 - Becomes Artistic Director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival