I was trying to do something that seemed very natural and easy but which bridged that gulf between the singing voice and the speaking voice.

The story of Willie Stark fascinated me because it was tackling the story of a man who outwardly has all the success one could possibly want and who is destroyed by his personal demons.

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

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 I felt that one of my operas did not come off I would certainly say so.

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.