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German is more familiar now since I live part of the year in Rome and part in the German part of Switzerland. But it's not difficult to sing in German; it's difficult to feel in German. This takes time. It's a culture.

I studied German at school. I lived in Berlin for two years and had a German girlfriend for five years, so I don't find speaking German particularly difficult. Singing was slightly more difficult.

I have often heard the statement made by foreign singers, as a demonstrated fact, that the German artists are artists in feeling indeed, and serious in their devotion, but that their singing is crude.

Americans can pretty much sing anything, whereas foreign singers are often limited in style, language, even composer.

Once you know the Romance languages, singing in those languages is so sexy and sensual. I do have a global audience, so why not?

I was constantly being pushed toward a European ideal of what it means to be a classical or opera singer, let's say in the Renata Tebaldi mode. I reject that.

In Germany I am not so famous.

My sons are into German music, but they are into all kinds of music.

I'm rarely singing in English.

Part of my joy as a singer is to give gifts to people, and one way I try to connect to them is to add something in French or German or whatever.