My cheeks explode when I smile. Thats why I have to look so nonplussed.

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.

As an artist, you put so much into what you do and it can all be torn down in a nanosecond.

My dad and I have always been somewhat competitive.

Once illness strikes, you realize there's not a lot of time for you to do what you really need to do. And there's no time like the present.

All these poses of classical torture ruined my mind like a snake in the orchard. I did go from wanting to be someone, now I'm drunk and wearing flip-flops on Fifth Avenue.

My love of maple syrup. I've been known to knock back a can over a couple days: A swig here, a swig there, and next thing you know it's gone. It's a habit I have to stave off. I don't want to lose all my teeth.