French is, in many ways, more difficult for an English-speaking person to sing. It is so full of complex and trying vowels. It requires the utmost subtlety.

Inspired by the purse rather than the soul, the mercenary side fairly screams in many of the works put out by every day American publishers.

The real artist has no idea that he is sacrificing himself for art. He does “what he does for one reason and one reason only-he can't help doing it”

Just as the bird sings or the butterfly soars, because it is his natural characteristic, so the artist works.

When the student has her voice under complete control, it is safe to take up the lyric repertoire of Mendelssohn, Old English Songs, etc. How simple and charming they are!

The sincerity of the art worker must permeate the song as naturally as the green leaves break through the dead branches in springtime.

Vocal study before age 20 is likely to be injurious, though some survive it in the hands of very careful and understanding teachers.

A student will send me an urgent appeal to hear her, saying she is poor and wants my advice as to whether it is worth while to continue her studies. I invariably refuse such requests.

The student who deceives himself into thinking that he is giving his life like an ascetic in the spirit of sacrifice for art, is the victim of a deplorable species of egotism.

We are rich in the quantity of songs rather than in the quality. The singer has to go through hundreds of compositions before he finds one that really says something.

In the piano, one has the instrument complete before he begins; but in the case of the voice, the instrument has to be developed by study.

He avoided small talk at the best of times and this, unquestionably, was a million horrific miles from the best of times.

Love is respect, recognition and honourgiven without expectation.

I'm open to whatever. I think sometimes when people collaborate these days, it's a little bit convenient.

Girls in scripts are often pretty but brainless, or geeky and no one likes them, so it's great to find richer roles. Chalk and cheese aspects of people are very interesting to play.

Much in our lives is chance.

Sugar is more present in America or England than it is in France. I think there is an addiction to sweetness.

Hostility to art is also hostility to the new, to the unforeseen.

Diana Vishneva is not only a magnificent dancer but a magnificent actress - no one works harder or understands more.

No one I know actually reads what I write, so thank heavens for you strangers.

If you can't find anybody else, then I'll go. So, they couldn't find anybody else. So, I went.