Richard Bonynge Quotes

I was really conscious of that when I went in because I felt that I was pretty solid on the first one, but I didn't have the groove exactly where I wanted it.

I'm not good enough, technically, to be a classic musician. I lack discipline.

I never saw myself as a singer; I never really thought I had the voice for it.

I know I'm not musically talented.

I am not a natural singer, but I can sing, and probably the way I sing is more imitative than from myself, which is why I am never going to be an amazing recording artist.

Why, in such a case, should the performer essay any sort of considered approach at all?

I can sit on a chair with a score and give myself a wonderful performance.

People have these incredible expectations. So instead of being inspired by, say, Joni Mitchell's music, I look at it and say to myself, 'I'm going to quit - why would I think of writing or performing after listening to that?'

If you want me to play only the notes without any specific dynamics, I will never make one mistake.

True expression is hard when performing opera. The problem is that opera relies on the dramatic context of the piece. It can be interpreted and represented, but there are guidelines; there is a vocabulary within the pieces that you must know objectively and reflect.

I'd love to have the time to learn to sing opera properly rather than bellowing half-formed fragments of melody in exuberant moments.

To play music, you have to understand it. I didn't understand 'Topographic Oceans.' That's why I hardly played on it. It frustrated me no end - and playing the whole thing on tour, I got farther and farther away from it.

Sorry, no, I'm never satisfied with my drumming.

The beauty of it is when you can just show up and hit the notes.

It was he who impressed, time and again, the necessity of singing as nature intended, and - I remember - he constantly warned, don't let the public know that you work. So I went slowly. I never forced the voice.

There were so many specific things from high school jazz band that I remembered: the conductor searching out people who were out of tune, or stopping and starting me for hours in front of the band as they watched.

See, I'm not a very good musician.

I'm so critical of my own work that it's difficult for me to disassociate myself and watch it as an audience.

The real exertion in the case of an opera singer lies not so much in her singing as in her acting of a role, for nearly every modern opera makes great dramatic and physical demands.

I can't do all that riddly diddly stuff. I'm not good enough. It's all about not playing.

You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.

When facing symphonic orchestras which have played some works five thousands times, you have nothing to do.

I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.

A lot of people may not know how competitive it is to play classical music, because when you think about it, the music that you're playing is music that's been here for years. And all you're trying to do is improve upon it when you play.

The activity of a singer that sings opera is similar to that of an athlete.