I wrote music as soon as I knew notation.

When I dealt with set theory, I could never make it be the music that I wanted.

I'm not a music lover in the sense that I look for something to have on. I've never had that attitude to music.

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

My operas and my theatre works are very formal pieces.

One thing I've tried to do in writing music is take on very basic things, very archetypal things.

My operas usually come from musical ideas rather than ideas about subject matter.