I have a certain image that's more classic, and I'm happy to stay out of the fray.

When I sing, the sound is a totally different range, color, all of it. It's all about the breath. You take in a breath and you make a sound.

My parents discussed singing every night over the dinner table; I had a tremendous music education.

Your brain has a music room, and evolution would not have gone to the trouble of designing that if it didn't have some benefits. So, that suggests to me that we and our ancestors have had music as a central part of our experience for eons. And we're just beginning to understand how that might be. I think that's fascinating.

Having to travel so much plays havoc with your personal life.

Someone once said that there are probably seven naturally good singing days in a year-and those are days you won't be booked. What we must learn is how to sing through all the other days.

In a way, being an opera singer is like being a very romantic sixteen-year-old who falls in love with great passion and conviction every month.