52 Quotes by Carlisle Floyd

When I’ve seen my operas in Europe, they have always struck me as more American than when I hear them here. I can’t tell you what that phenomenon is.

If something is successful with the audience, it’s automatically suspect; the reverse is to say that not to reach audiences is the greatest compliment an artist can receive!

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.

I’ve never set out consciously to write American music. I don’t know what that would be unless the obvious Appalachian folk references.

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.

If an American audience is given a serious musical theater piece that is well produced, dramatically gripping and wonderfully acted, they’ll respond to it.