I felt that the studio recording process makes you stand still too long.

I knew that I could be more creative onstage, to state my own case and deliver my own interpretation of the role much more aggressively than in the recording studio.

That's been my sort of aim in life, to never miss an opportunity.

I'm completely in charge of my own life now. Sometimes there's no one there to slap me on the hand and say: 'Stop being so bullish and bossy,' and things like that.

I never had the influence of any other singer in my music, so I sounded like myself all the time.

When I perform Strauss, it is as if the music fits me like a glove. My voice seems to lie in a happy area in this music, which is lyrical and passionate at the same time.

The word 'no' is a very good word in a singer's repertoire.