I've always been a bit dressed up, even on casual days. I suppose that's the performer in me.

- Danielle de Niese

What I see as specially English is the charm - everyone is so polite. Being restrained is part of the charm. And I love the sense of humour - it takes me back to Australia. The English are great at making fun of themselves. They're so self-effacing.

- Danielle de Niese

I got into singing when I was 6.

- Danielle de Niese

I feel very fortunate. I feel like an Olympian. When I watch the Olympics, I cry because I have been through that journey.

- Danielle de Niese

I believed in Santa Claus until I was 12!

- Danielle de Niese

We can all afford to do a little soul-searching about the choices we make and the way we live our lives, but sometimes searching one's soul doesn't provide the answers we seek.

- Danielle de Niese

I know there are lots of regional accents in England, but I can't tell them apart and I'm not really aware of class. I don't pay any attention to those boundaries. I'm a California girl.

- Danielle de Niese

My professional life shouldn't be an influence on whether I spend time at home. My career is my whole life's blood. It's my calling.

- Danielle de Niese

My Mozart career began as a teenager in Los Angeles, singing arias from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni.'

- Danielle de Niese

My dad's in banking, my mum manages the American branch of a Swiss vitamin company; they're really busy, but they still come to all my premieres.

- Danielle de Niese

Music can be a source of escapism.

- Danielle de Niese

Outreach appearances in the schools are usually part of my contracts, and I love doing them.

- Danielle de Niese

I'm a huge dog person; I love to hug and kiss them.

- Danielle de Niese

I spent my first 10 years in the Commonwealth. I come from cricket, crumpets, cucumber sandwiches, the Queen.

- Danielle de Niese

In a fit at the bookstore one day, I bought all my favourite composers' biographies: Schubert, Massenet, Wolf. I've still not had a chance to read them; it breaks my heart. But when you travel so much, you just can't take that many books with you.

- Danielle de Niese

One of the things I loved about my childhood was that I didn't feel like I lost my innocence too young, like some children these days.

- Danielle de Niese

I have to take care of myself. It's about self-preservation.

- Danielle de Niese

Mozart is my first strength.

- Danielle de Niese

From my perspective, music allows me to escape from the world of what is happening right in front of me... to the world of my thoughts, my dreams, my hopes and ideas - for the world, for my own life, for the day, even for the moment.

- Danielle de Niese

I've always considered myself to be a travelling soul. I've never felt out of place anywhere.

- Danielle de Niese