Certainly in terms of my life - anybody's life - you go through death, childbirth and marriage, glory and defeat, and so on.

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.

Crazy as it sounds, I'm a believer in destiny and serendipity, and I have had cosmic experiences all my life. Something told me I was meant for greater stuff. And look, I've had a baby! And I've written an opera!

There's no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable.

Madonna created a monster that sucks up souls.

Mowing your lawn is against nature.