Beethoven, Schubert, Schoenberg, Berg imply a type of pianist who is intellectual. That's not always associated with female soloists.

I frequently find after a rehearsal of a performance that I have more breath, and can walk better and climb stairs better than I could before. It's as if I've expanded my lungs doing it. Basically speaking, conducting is quite a healthy profession.

Basically speaking, conducting is quite a healthy profession.

I had a sense of debt to the medical profession and to surgery particularly. I would not be as ambient as I am without it.

Since first starting my career, I've grown accustomed to working with actors older than me. I'm always the youngest.

I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction - a hostage to my political career.

There are some jobs that you go for because achieving them would take your career in a direction that you would like it to go, but mostly, I want to play the roles and have had the great good fortune and opportunities to play some fantastic roles and been very, very fortunate.

I think a little tidbit I can give you is that I grew up with basically everything handed to me, except for my career. I worked for that.