When I'm alone at home, I really prefer to listen to Wagner's orchestral music rather than any vocal music. I find it illuminating not to have to pay attention to voices in the recordings.

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

I'm more confident now than I've ever been. As you get older, you have to be.

I really believe I've been a good person. Not perfect - forget about perfect - but just learning by what I was taught and living by my own values. I might have stepped on a few ants - and a few other things as well - but I've never hurt anybody.

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

Opera is for a lifetime, not just a minute.

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