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!

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

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

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

The performances of my works in the last 10 years are probably equal to all the previous years put together. There are so many venues now and there is a completely new public for opera that's grown up outside of the traditional core opera public.

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

Socially I never was an outsider. I have never thought of the conflict element before frankly, but perhaps it was wanting to belong, and at the same time wanting to retain one's own personality.