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I find I'm not one of these composers that are, you know, walking along a beach or walking on the mountainside in County Donegal that's, you know, 'Oh, a melody.' It's more a matter of eventually taking that moment with me to the studio, and it begins to evolve.

When I perform Strauss, it is as if the music fits me like a glove. My voice seems to lie in a happy area in this music, which is lyrical and passionate at the same time.

If I had not had music in my life, I would be the neurasthenic vision of the playwright.

The waltz is a very important part of my life. It's a very important way for me to express my positiveness, bringing humor to the world.

I'd forget the piece just before I went out to do the concerto, the panic was too great. This was not anything that gave me pleasure. This was fulfilling somebody else's dream.

I abhor the words 'classical music.' Few things satisfy me more than a really good cover version.

I would sing the blues if I had the blues.

In my next lifetime, I want to come back as a composer.

I don't even listen to music on the road, and if I did, it would be classical or whatever, something to chill me out.