I was encouraged by my mother and, to a lesser extent, by my father.

Our most intimate contact with civilizations long since dust has been through the art which has survived them.

The artist is something of an outsider in America. I have always felt that America does not value its artists, certainly not in the sense that the Europeans do.

People in very high places suddenly fall, and we are always surprised because we don't factor in the basic element that they're humans and, therefore, they are flawed and have weaknesses.

If an American audience is given a serious musical theater piece that is well produced, dramatically gripping and wonderfully acted, they'll respond to it.

I found a certain kind of music congenial to me; it never occurred to me to write music that was academically acceptable.

America tends to worship the modest talent because it doesn't put us in an uncomfortable position vis-a-vis the artist.