The opera tells the story with all the built-in contradictions and from many different angles.

I think music has gone through a period of something very severe, rather radical, rather the way painting did with cubism.

The theatre only knows what it's doing next week, not like the opera, where they say: 'What are we going to do in five years' time?' A completely different attitude.

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

It's the irrational things that interest me.

The opera tells the story with all the built-in contradictions and from many different angles.

I don't think there is much American music.