Miss Renata Tebaldi was always sweet and very firm... she had dimples of iron.

We are similar to a museum. My function is to present old masterpieces in modern frames.

Expressions of disapproval are on a level of vulgarity that cannot be tolerated. The way to express disapproval is to do without applause.

The opera always loses money. That's as it should be. Opera has no business making money.

It is so much worse to be a mediocre artist than to be a mediocre post-office clerk.

How nice the human voice is when it isn't singing.

We want an ensemble of stars, not comets.

I will not enter into a public feud with Madame Callas, since I am well aware that she has considerably greater competence and experience at that kind of thing than I have.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain the services of first-class conductors. They are sick and tired of dealing with singers, as I am.

I never socialized with singers. It's very dangerous if you work with opera... I don't think that in 30 years a singer has entered my apartment.

I never for a moment believed they would perform at 10 o'clock in the morning. It's hard enough getting them to perform at 8 at night.

People don’t die so the universe can gauge your reaction. They die because life is finite.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last-minute panic.

I feel like if I'm not going to change the game or do something innovative, then I'm not motivated.

Everyone is unique and each experience is different.

Could anyone fail to be depressed by a book he or she has published? Don't we always outgrow them the moment the last page has been written?

I'm very professional.

Human beings are remarkably resilient. When you think about it, our species has been teetering upon the edge of the existential cliff since Hiroshima. In short, we endure.

Sometimes to do the right thing, we must keep a promise we never made.

I didn't want the life that made sense. Not if the chaos meant i could have Bella.

I am the luckiest actress on the planet.