Most of the important composers in our country are clustered in the Northeast.

When I've seen my operas in Europe, they have always struck me as more American than when I hear them here. I can't tell you what that phenomenon is.

If something is successful with the audience, it's automatically suspect; the reverse is to say that not to reach audiences is the greatest compliment an artist can receive!

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

Anyone who creates something new or does something different artistically is going to be singled out.

It's amazing how fast generations lose sight of other generations. One of the first things the young composers who come to work with me say is that they want to write music people will like, instead of gaining their credentials by being rejected by the audience.

I think anything that is expressed directly and as honestly as possible will last.