For me, to be a feminist is to answer the question 'Are women human?' with a yes.
Nothing primes inspiration more than necessity, whether it be the presence of a copyist waiting for your work or the prodding of an impresario tearing his hair.
The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart.
Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind.
Eating, loving, singing, and digesting are, in truth, the four acts of the comic opera known as life, and they pass like bubbles of a bottle of champagne. Whoever lets them break without having enjoyed them is a complete fool.
How wonderful opera would be if there were no singers.
Give me a laundry list and I'll set it to music.
I'm afraid I don't believe there is such a thing as blasphemy, just outrage from those insecure in their own faith.
I've been very, very lucky in my career, in my life - from day one. When aspiring directors say, 'what's your advice?' first I say, 'be born the son of a famous director. It's invaluable. '
What we do in our lives is what gives us contentment and serenity and makes us feel like we are doing some kind of contribution.
Methinks I am like a man, who having struck on many shoals, and having narrowly escap'd shipwreck in passing a small frith, has yet the temerity to put out to sea in the same leaky weather-beaten vessel, and even carries his ambition so far as to think of compassing the globe under these disadvantageous circumstances.