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Well, the very best operas are the ones written by the very best composers.

Opera was the cinema of its time, so to bring back that popular appeal, you just need to unleash its visceral immediacy and excitement. Most productions don't manage that - but when an opera does do it, you never forget it.

It is essential to do everything possible to attract young people to opera so they can see that it is not some antiquated art form but a repository of the most glorious music and drama that man has created.

But nevertheless, it's music ultimately that matters in opera, and opera is a piece of music reaching out as a vision in sound reaching out to the world.

Quite a few operas are still being commissioned around the world, although nothing apart from audience popularity can ensure more than a few performances.

Opera is one of the most important art forms. It should be listened to and appreciated by everyone.

Opera is the original marriage of words and music, and there's a theatre element, a dramatic element. It's right up my alley.

I love opera so much. I would never go back to doing it, but I love to listen - I'm grateful for it.

One of the problems that we face through the media attention that these artists receive is that there has been an awful lot of talk about opera and classical music being elite and being for an elitist group.

Opera is a beautiful and important diversion for me.