"I think the composer and production staff of an opera have a real responsibility to use visual elements of all kinds to make clear to the American audience, at any rate, exactly what is going on."

"Well, let me, first of all, say, that as a microtonal composer, I've never been much of a theorist."

"It's not important to me to found a school; it's not important to me to have disciples."

"I really write for people."

"America was based on a poetic vision. What will happen when it loses its poetry?"

"Because people are very interested in my poetry, in what I say."

"The business side of film has goofed up so many things, but even that's changing. It happened to the music industry and now it's happening to the film studios. It's crazy what's going on. But artists should have control of their work especially if, as I always say, you never turn down a good idea and never take a bad idea."

"The whole aspect of cinema and film festivals should be a moment to come together and celebrate art and humanity. It would be a shame if there was such a divide."