I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.

Musicians . . . own music because music owns them.

I don't go around regretting things that don't happen.

I seem to write an opera about every 20 years; if you live long enough you can write four operas. I finished my third in 1970.

I don't care what [other critics] say, I only hope to be played.