I only started singing the Russian roles when I came west.

I came out singing, the doctor slapped me on the head, and I started singing.

I could hear my friends outside playing soccer while I was expected to stay inside practicing the piano. It was like torture!

I never, never thought one day I will sing at La Scala or I will get the Grammy. I'm lucky. I work a lot with a teacher, with my coach.

Opera singers, we're not muscle men; you have to be careful about your work.

For the first time I go to La Scala, for each thing, for each rehearsal, my knees were shaking. But the audience was very fine with me.