Opera was the cinema of its time, so to bring back that popular appeal, you just need to unleash its visceral immediacy and excitement. Most productions don't manage that - but when an opera does do it, you never forget it.

Why live life from dream to dream, and dread the day when dreaming ends.

Accept certain inalienable truths.

I do find walking is fundamental to my creative process.

It's pretty hard to get mugged in Manhattan.

I grew up around jazz. I love jazz.

I really believe musical form will go on. There's got to be a way of making musical form in cinema live again.