Rufus Wainwright

“My mother had a lot of parties when I was a child. There'd always be a moment when she would place me on the upright piano and have me sing Somewhere 'Over the Rainbow'.”

“I find so many songwriters today are missing an element... either the production is amazing but the songs aren't, or it's the other way around.”

“I've written songs for Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, and Linda Thompson. I sort of focus on these wonderful, aging divas. But maybe that's because I think I'm Christina Aguilera.”

“Premiering a new opera is probably one of the hardest things in the world to do, and opening nights of any opera are always pretty stressful.”

“Everything I do, I feel is genius. Whether it is or it isn't.”

“I want to carve out a serious period of time to focus on the next opera without any distractions. And to do that you need money.”

“I like to try new things.”

“I've always gravitated towards opera, and the Royal Opera House is quite possibly the greatest opera house on earth.”

“I think I've done a pretty fantastic job, but of course I want to sell millions of records.”

“I am ridiculously high-maintenance.”

“I have this horrible, horrible habit of going on YouTube and checking out comments about what I do.”

“It seems like the older I get, the more unreal the world becomes.”

“I may not lead the most dramatic life, but in my brain it's 'War and Peace' everyday.”

“I've paid the price; I definitely have a reputation that precedes me, and there is a camp that plots my demise. But then again... it's funner that way.”

“Why be in music, why write songs, if you can't use them to explore life or an idealized vision of life? I believe a lot of our lives are spent asleep, and what I've been trying to do is hold on to those moments when a little spark cuts through the fog and nudges you.”

“My cheeks explode when I smile. That's why I have to look so nonplussed.”

“I've had my ups and downs, and I definitely have a sense - in America, especially - that once you've made your mark and gotten your Rolling Stone piece and your Grammy nomination, that they're on to the next piece of meat, and they don't necessarily like to follow the twists and turns of an artistic career.”

“I'm very fit on tour. I try to eat well, try to sleep. But it's still rock n' roll.”

“I like to sing to Verdi, I like singing to Sibelius, and Mahler maybe.”

“I think we could all be a bit more elitist.”