Rufus Wainwright Quotes

I am under no illusion that I will ever be the greatest opera composer in the world, with Wagner and Verdi and Strauss before me. I think my work could fit very nicely into musicals, though.

Americans, they have an incredible operatic tradition: the Metropolitan Opera House is - if not the most prestigious - one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world for over 100 years.

An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I've left the opera house.

My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.

At its best, no art form is more thrilling than grand opera, yet none is at greater risk of following the dinosaurs down the cold road to extinction.

The opera in Los Angeles is excellent.

My father's an opera nut, and my stepmother used to work at the Metropolitan Opera, so I had a lot of opera immersion. I like the grandness and pretention of it.

To play opera, to play Wagner, it's a great joy.

I have no desire to become a crossover artiste, singing with microphones. I believe in opera; that it is something that young people would love if they had a chance to hear it.

It is essential to do everything possible to attract young people to opera so they can see that it is not some antiquated art form but a repository of the most glorious music and drama that man has created.

Music and opera are a big part of my life.

The number of opera houses around the world and the high attendance rates show that opera an art form that is more popular than ever.

I think my great-grandpa was an opera singer or something.

I don't find much influence in opera. It was such a different part of me.

I enjoy listening to opera at home, occasionally, but I would much rather see it than just listen to it.

A lot of people hated every moment of my 'Ring.' And a lot of people who had never been to an opera bought subscriptions to the next season.

If you decide to work with the opera world, chances are there are going to be people who resist that.

Growing up, my dad took me to the opera.

I never liked opera growing up. I always liked chamber music or solo music even more than orchestral music.

I had a year at 3 when I wanted to be a conductor in the opera.

My real passion is for opera. It was born and developed by listening to records, and my dream as a child was to record entire operas when I grew up, and this dream came true.

I became a set designer for opera. I'm a great opera buff, I love classical music, and I needed a time-out.

My parents were opera singers and voice teachers, so growing up, I admired musicians and dancers.

To tell you the truth, I never listen to opera at home.

One of the things I love about opera is that it's the combination of all the art forms, and certainly the world of fashion is a big deal in it.