If your body is not in shape to sing [from the diaphragm] you will push and push but keep falling back on your throat to make the sound. This will ruin your voice.

The music itself could never take the place of my own passion in life.

I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent, and this is what I have devoted my life to.

I want to reach as many people as possible with the message of music, of wonderful opera.

On the day I'm performing, I don't hear anything anyone says to me.

Some say the word 'pop' is a derogatory word to say 'not important' - I do not accept that. If the word 'classic' is the word to say 'boring,' I do not accept. There is good and bad music.

The rivalry is with ourself. I try to be better than is possible. I fight against myself, not against the other.