My voice has been raised not only in song, but to make the big world outside through me, understand something of the spirit of my beloved country.

Music is not written in red, white and blue. It is written in the heart's blood of the composer.

The first rule in opera is the first rule in life: see to everything yourself.

If I'd been a housemaid I'd have been the best in Australia -- I couldn't help it. It's got to be perfection for me.

One of the drawbacks of fame is that one can never escape from it.