My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!

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

There are rhythmic ideas which sometimes only work up to a point. In writing there are moments when it just comes off the page, it's not just a collection of notes.

My operas and my theatre works are very formal pieces.

The thing about influence is that any composer worth anything will give you the same names.

I always write the pieces I want to write.

My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!