Everyone has seen photographs of Mexicans wearing those big sombreros. When you come to Mexico, the astonishing thing is, nobody wears these hats at all.

Quite a few operas are still being commissioned around the world, although nothing apart from audience popularity can ensure more than a few performances.

With Cold Sassy Tree having its first production, I saw no necessity to do anything other than produce it with the correct setting.

The number of opera houses around the world and the high attendance rates show that opera an art form that is more popular than ever.

At HBO, they seem to be well-informed. They make what I think are really quite mature films.

Film is shot in fragments, and the same moments can be shot again and again until the director is satisfied.

It is essential to do everything possible to attract young people to opera so they can see that it is not some antiquated art form but a repository of the most glorious music and drama that man has created.