Ian Gillan Quotes

I went to watch Pavarotti once. He doesn't like it when you join in.

I don't profess to be Luciano Pavarotti, but I can hold a tune.

I would love to sing opera.

Opera? Just what the world needs: more fat women screaming.

I got last-minute rush seats to Baz Luhrmann's 'Boheme,' and my favorite singer, Ekaterina Solovyeva, was playing Mimi that day. My face got burned off when she sang the aria 'Donde Lieta Usci.' The woman was technically sobbing and singing opera at the same time. I don't know how you do that.

That was my way, and I also use the music after five years, I started hearing opera, opera, it was very good instrument to keep the spirit very strong because you feel like you are yourself singing opera, and I used to hear a lot of opera, they send me tapes.

In the '80s, everyone wanted to be in opera. It was groovy.

For me, few things are more compelling than watching a great opera.

My grandma did opera singing for the better part of her life; she used to sing all over the place. My grandpa was a sax player, and he used to travel all over the place, too.

I would like to be Maria, but there is La Callas who demands that I carry myself with her dignity.

Let's be clear: I love singing at the Met.

When I was invited to sing with Pavarotti, I had about two weeks to learn Italian.

I've conducted the Boston Pops! Imagine that! Me! Maya Angelou! I've sang and danced at La Scala!

The role I really want to sing is Elisabetta from 'Don Carlo.'

For years, I wasn't in the least bit interested in opera.

I wasn't the best in my class at the Royal Academy. There was a really good soprano and baritone who were technically better and are doing really well in opera now. But I was definitely the best mezzo-soprano in my class, because I was the only one of those!

I was classically trained in operetta from about age 4, I think.

I had opera training for three years, and I have three albums out. I also did a Broadway show. I'm an actor that sings, so it is in my blood. It is in my system.

I'd love to play Carmen - it's the perfect mezzo role.

I love Massenet - 'Manon' had been a wonderful role for me - and the music he wrote for 'Thais' is quite enjoyable and not terribly demanding in a vocal sense.

I don't run after money or fame. The only thing I have always wished is to be a classical singer.

We grew up listening to a variety of music, such as Gospel/Christian, R&B old/new school, jazz, blues, Mozart, Mary Poppins, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, just to name a few. I love opera, too - went to state in high school as a soloist.

I didn't want to be Nelsons's wife. I wanted to be soprano Kristine Opolais.

I'd love to work with Tweet. She's my favorite singer, and I'd love to do a song with her even though she's out of my league.

That's the extraordinary thing about opera: it has the power to elicit a physical reaction. I don't know if I'd have been any good or not, but I do know that I was never committed enough to find out.