The way to make better decisions is to make more of them. Then make sure you learn from each one, including those that don't seem to work out in the short term: they will provide valuable distinctions to make better evaluations and therefore decisions in the future. Realize that decision making, like any skill you focus on improving, gets better the more often you do it.

Some nights you might go through an entire performance and not feel a thing, and the audience may have a much better time, 'cause if you're enjoying yourself on stage too much, they're having a terrible time because they can't hear you. And if you're a woman your mascara's running.

I don't have many friends; I'm very much a loner. As a child I was very isolated and I've never been really close to anyone.

I love the hour in makeup. It gives you time to think and have a cup of coffee. It's my favorite part of the day.

The whole point of courage, to overcome your fear. That's the interesting thing, when courage bleeds through the fear.

People forget that Mozart wrote for commissions. There's a thing in psychology where they think if it's popular, it can't be serious.

A conductor can't be too arrogant with an orchestra and try to impose himself too much.