Carlisle Floyd

Socially I never was an outsider. I have never thought of the conflict element before frankly, but perhaps it was wanting to belong, and at the same time wanting to retain one's own personality. ”

There's the Bacon society, which is fostered by his fourth wife Helen Bacon, but I don't know what kind of performances his music gets. He wrote symphonic music and some chorale music. ”

People in very high places suddenly fall, and we are always surprised because we don't factor in the basic element that they're humans and, therefore, they are flawed and have weaknesses. ”

The performances of my works in the last 10 years are probably equal to all the previous years put together. There are so many venues now and there is a completely new public for opera that's grown up outside of the traditional core opera public. ”

There is something inherent in our democracy that tends to want to level. America is a little uncomfortable in the presence of someone who is distinctly superior in whatever way. ”

We think the Puritans always dressed in black and white, which they didn't. They loved very bright colors. And there were other differences in perceptions that gave one a very different view of them. ”

Anyone who creates something new or does something different artistically is going to be singled out. ”

I think anything that is expressed directly and as honestly as possible will last. ”

America tends to worship the modest talent because it doesn't put us in an uncomfortable position vis-a-vis the artist. ”

I had all the normal interests - I played basketball and I headed the school paper. But I also developed very early a great love for music and literature and the theater. ”