He knew where life was to be found.

As a wonderful husband and a great father, and somebody who inspired others to pursue their own dreams, like Fred Astaire inspired me.

Oh, yes, absolutely. I have two children, and often I think about them and how when I’m gone, they will be here listening to an old CD of mine, thinking, “At least I can I can hear her voice.” I think this is very charming. It’s very nice. And then, of course, I also think about the other generations of opera singers coming behind me… It’s so important that they can have a real testimony of how it was in our ears. I think that what stands the test of time is really the memory of people hearing us singing somewhere.

Kind, funny, alive.

Growing up as a gay boy in a small town, you get used to people saying bad things pretty quickly.

Meanness and lying.

I bought a Mercedes convertible brand new in 2016 and I’ve only done 4,000 miles. I love cars – if I’m going to blow it, it’ll be on a sports car. I already have my eyes on the next one – I’ll get Simon Cowell to buy it.

Oprah Winfrey. Considering the cards she was dealt at birth, what she has achieved is quite something.

I don’t think anyone should deplore anything about themselves. You can always improve things, but by deploring you’re putting yourself on a losing streak.

Sheer drops, like a precipice.