The always charming Riccardo Muti, music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, sat down Tuesday for a wide-ranging interview with PBS host Charlie Rose. Muti and the CSO are in New York City this week to launch Carnegie Hall's 2012-13 season with three concerts, beginning with Orff's "Carmina Burana."

Among Muti's many excellent soundbites:

His possible epitaph: "Here lies Riccardo Muti, a crazy man who tried [forever] to find a correct quaver."

The march of time: "If a conductor needs more than 30 seconds to travel from the door to the podium, it's time to think about retirement."

The world's best orchestras: "Chicago ... and then Vienna and Berlin."

If you missed the telecast, watch it online at charlierose.com

And check suntimes.com for Andrew Patner's coverage of the CSO's current tour.