20 Questions with Jean-Marie Zeitouni
September 26, 2025
Coffee or tea?
Definitely coffee. I’m a coffee maniac.
Summer or winter?
I’m happy with both.
Beethoven or Mozart?
If you force me to choose, I would say Mozart (but Beethoven would win over almost everybody else).
Text or call?
Definitely call. I am very old school (but I try to respect the people of today, so it’s generally text, then call…).
Sweet or salty?
Used to be a big salty person, but there’s a shift happening (sigh!).
Adventure or relaxation?
Definitely adventure. I don’t know even what relaxation is.
Baroque or Romantic music?
It depends on the day, the time, the mood etc…
Book or movie?
Book, no question.
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars, although I know that the Star Trek culture is deeper and the Star Trek geeks are more extreme.
Wind instruments or brass?
I can’t tell you. It’s like choosing one of my children over another.
Hockey or football?
Hockey, no question.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs, definitely to be around, because they’re faithful and happier to see you. But I admire cats greatly, they are of an extreme elegance (and everybody in my family is a cat person, but I stay at a distance. I’m allergic anyway.).
Bach or Handel?
Also, because I’m forced to answer, I love Handel, but I need to say Bach, because there’s simply no one else. He’s the greatest.
Ocean or mountains?
Too difficult to choose. Oceans always fascinated me because of the immensity and because it’s something that has a depth unimaginable, impossible to see with the naked eye. But mountains? Yes, I will say mountains, because I know I feel free in the mountains. I actually feel lighter and freer and more hopeful. And I don’t feel really secure in the middle of the ocean. So, I go with my feelings and say mountains.
Morning person or night owl?
I’m actually both. I’m by all means the last person in bed in my household, and the first person out of bed.
Crossword puzzle or sudoku?
Crossword.
Fortissimo or pianissimo?
That’s a little bit like the salty and sweet question. I think that with age and experience, I’m becoming more and more pianissimo, and I think that’s better for the world.
Bike ride or nature walk?
I like both, but nature walk, because you have time to think and contemplate.
Board games or card games?
Board games with my kids, and card games with my friends (I used to be a Bridge fanatic).
Symphony or concerto?
Very difficult choice. Concerto is often challenging to accompany for a conductor and an orchestra, because we are basically listening and following to the ideas of a soloist. So, it is really fun and challenging. But generally, I think that symphonies are more finished and evolved structurally. Definitely. And for most symphonic composers, this is where their creativity and the expression of their artistry is at their highest.
