Marni Nixon

““I still have nice high notes,” “but I would never do the Queen of the Night [a famously high-flying role in Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’]. I turned down that role at the New York City Opera” earlier in her career. “Maybe it was a mistake, but I didn’t want to be known just for vocal pyrotechnics.””

““As you make all of life’s small choices, keep focused on your goals. Think about the long run — because that’s life. We’re all in it for the long run.””

““Treat yourself like an athlete. Your instrument is in your body, but you activate it with your mind. Keep coaching, keep flexible, keep in good physical shape."”

“"The air, the people, the changing skies and the mountains so close. Seattle really left a mark on me.””

“"I might be invisible, but the checks were solid as a rock"”

“"Most people still know me from the dubbing,” “But I have been working hard to revitalize the recital, to do classical things, especially the American art song.””

“"Life is just one big improv.””

“"I just knew it was all sort of silly,” says Nixon. “It was just a part of the process of making a movie … As Shakespeare says, ‘the play’s the thing.’”

““Hepburn grudgingly agreed that she could see she was not quite doing it the way they wanted her to sing it,” says Nixon. “She was very helpful.””

“Twentieth Century Fox, when I did The King and I, threatened me. They said, if anybody ever knows that you did any part of the dubbing for Deborah Kerr, we’ll see to it that you don’t work in town again.””

“"You always had to sign a contract that nothing would be revealed,””