The pop world is popular, and it's about what the people want and connecting to the masses, whereas opera, although it was once popular - and I still believe it can be - it has become very elitist and intellectual, but that certainly doesn't sell tickets. It's a struggle, but I've always embraced struggle and thrived off of it, so it's the way my life needs to go.

I am under no illusion that I will ever be the greatest opera composer in the world, with Wagner and Verdi and Strauss before me. I think my work could fit very nicely into musicals, though.

I am always writing; if you want to survive in this business, you need to keep working, keep creating and never stop the output.

I would love to have a number one hit. The truth is if I don't get one, I'll be fine, but at the same time, the truth is that I'm dying for one, as well.

I do not consider myself a guitar player. My father is a guitar player - I'm not.

Once you've fallen from classical virtue, won't have a soul for to wake up and hold you.

That will to love is very powerful. But it doesn't always win.