Anyone who draws attention to himself as an individual, is viewed with suspicion. We acquired this tendency, of course, from America, and we must resist it: levelling, and imitation of what others are already doing.

All music has to speak in some form or other.

With creative people, truly new horizons open up.

Unfortunately, it happens all too seldom that you really disappear behind a work, that you are no longer audible as an interpreter.

...in my lieder concerts, I always strove, when possible, to sing only the works of a single composer, so that the audience could be gradually drawn into a particular creative genius' way of thinking, and could follow him.

The work is the most important thing.

What concerns me, is the general social tendency to enforce a level, above which nothing rises and stands out.