"In Europe, there is so much tradition, and everyone has established ideas as to what art should be and what it has always been"

This quote by Esa-Pekka Salonen speaks with the conventional nature of European art. He is recommending that in Europe, there is an enduring history of art and that people have actually a set idea of what art should be. This suggests that there is a particular level of conformity when it comes to art in Europe, as people are expected to abide by the recognized concepts of what art need to be. This could be viewed as a constraint to imagination, as it might be challenging for artists to break away from the traditional ideas of art and develop something brand-new and innovative. However, it might also be argued that this tradition is what makes European art so unique, as it has been passed down through generations and has become a part of the culture.