Fostering creativity in children is as important as any other part of the school curriculum because it feeds the soul. A daily dose of creativity helps children imagine a better world and then create it.

The first thing I did when I made a little bit of money as a singer was to buy myself an amber necklace. This is often the way we put together our lives, adding the striking qualities of others into our own character.

I am so envious of my colleagues from 100 years ago who only sang new works, they hardly ever sang revivals.

For my own singing, I used to be attracted by the baroque, the flashier the better, but now I prefer a simpler, purer style.

At this stage in my career, I don't have to take any big risks. You want to take a calculated risk, not one that leads to people saying 'yes, but there was that one time when she made that big mistake.' It's always a shame when that happens, especially if you've gotten by for decades without anything hugely tragic.

Being steeped in the process of learning and exploring keeps me from becoming too nervous. Partly it's about not getting bored.

I'm not exactly an angry young person.