Michael Tippett

I've seldom become nostalgic or settled.

Poetry is fascinating. As soon as it begins the poetry has changed the thing into something extra, and somehow prose can go over into poetry.

I remain a humanist. We are a very curious race.

That's always a cool thing to be the voice of what the eyes are seeing. It gives you the role of the Greek chorus and that's always fun to do.

Some directors were brilliant in the silent era but never felt at home in sound. It's like a sculptor being forced to take up painting.