Premiering a new opera is probably one of the hardest things in the world to do, and opening nights of any opera are always pretty stressful.

I think the minute you mention death, people run for the hills - unless it's heavy metal. People do not like death.

I was keenly aware that I didn't want to draw on too many typically doomed aspects of the fated singer. Whether it's Judy Garland or Norma Desmond, there is this tragic quality to older women that one can revel in, and you want it to be more three-dimensional than that. So it was important for the character to be strong and resilient, because there are so many victims in opera.

When I was signed, at the age of 23...the fact that I presented myself as an out gay man was very, very unusual.

I'll always be a boulevardier. I have an extreme reverence and romantic longing for all that is decrepit and fatalistic.

Cigarettes and chocolate milk These are just a couple of my cravings Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger A little bit thicker A little bit harmful for me.

I've developed into quite a swan. I'm one of those people that will probably look better and better as I get older - until I drop dead of beauty.