I think singing is one of the most natural things that human beings do, but it's difficult.

A lot of bad behavior in singers is caused by nerves.

I don't want to be somebody who stands still and sings pretty. Each song is a world. Each song is a story. I don't achieve nearly what I want.

My whole career I played these girls sort of 18 to 23.

I have not changed with the accomplishments. I've remained the same. If I had changed, great. You know, but I haven't.

The student's job is to stay open-minded, to quell the knee-jerk defensiveness we all possess in the face of suggestions for improvement, and to maintain patience when faced with a process that is often slow, confusing, and frustrating.

I think opera has gained a kind of glamorous appeal. It's a live performance that aligns all of the arts, and when it is represented in the media, in film in particular, it is presented as something that is really a special event, whether it's a great date or something that's just hugely romantic.