The power of music lies in its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being – the animal, the emotional, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Music teaches us, in short, that everything is connected.

– Daniel Barenboim, Everything Is Connected: The Power of Music, ed. Elena Cheah (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), 2008

I attended the class for only two years, but I needed five years of practical conducting experience before I managed to unlearn what he had taught me.

– Georg Solti, Memoirs (Knopf), 1997

I love Ballo, which is as nearly perfect an opera as one is likely to find.

– Georg Solti, Memoirs (Knopf), 1997

Instead of telling one story within three hours, you tell about 10 different stories, each in a nutshell.

– Jonas Kaufmann, Interview with Jennifer Williams, Opera Australia blog, 29 July 2014

Of course opera is a very old form of art. But I find it has an incredible power to open the doors to our hearts.

– Jonas Kaufmann, Interview with Rosemarie Frühauf, The Epoch Times, 4 December 2011

I could sing Parsifal many times every year, but I don't … It's too precious to just use it as a vehicle to make money.

– Jonas Kaufmann, Interview with Mark Pullinger, Gramophone, April 2024

Without wanting to diminish the worth of great opera singing, I think that Lieder singing is the queen of all the singing genres!

– Jonas Kaufmann, Email interview with Margarida Mota-Bull, Seen and Heard International, March 2012

I've had such an amazing career. I don't want to hear my voice – it is in the past.

– Kiri Te Kanawa, BBC interview announcing her retirement, 2017

Some people say: 'Oh, I think I am going to try singing now.' I think, don't even bother. Don't even start.

– Kiri Te Kanawa, Interview with Ben Lawrence, The Daily Telegraph, 30 May 2017

My voice is a soaring warm sound.

– Leontyne Price, Callaway Interviews, WTTW Chicago, 1981

It's terrible but you know I just love the sound of my own voice.

– Leontyne Price, Interview with Alan Blyth, Gramophone, August 1971

If you sing tight in the throat, and you sing onstage, and you have a big orchestra, it's finito. Your voice goes, 'Ciao.'

– Mirella Freni, Interview, The New York Times, 2005

It's not enough to have a beautiful voice.

– Mirella Freni, Interview with the Associated Press, 2002

I am generous in many ways, but not when I think it will destroy my voice. Some singers think they are gods who can do everything.

– Mirella Freni, Opera News, 2013

A young voice is like a young tree – it will not grow up straight if you place a heavy weight on top of it.

– Mirella Freni, Opera News, 1990

You can talk to me about streaming as much as you want, but I believe nothing can replace live music.

– Antonio Pappano, Interview with Thibault Vicq, Opera Online

In this country, I've observed that despite all our talk of wanting to bring in younger audiences, opera is something that you come to… later.

– Antonio Pappano, Interview with Norman Lebrecht, The Spectator, 29 February 2020

What I love about the word conductor is that it implies a certain electricity passing through. Music is basically air.

– Antonio Pappano, Interview with James Olley, Brunswick Review

You're not just conducting notes; you're conducting words.

– Antonio Pappano, Interview, The New York Times (republished by Artdaily), September 2024

After five years of the Ring, I simply can't do Tristan.

– Patrice Chéreau, As recalled by Daniel Barenboim, 'Patrice Chéreau – from Scandal to Legend' (danielbarenboim.com), 1981