“But if, on the other hand, my art succeeds in planting the seed of peace within man’s heart so that it may grow there, then my life will have had some meaning.”     Anhelo, 1997

 “I am not trying to be the first tenor in the world.  ...I am just a good tenor - just that - a good, honest musician who does his work.” (The Singer, June/July 1998 /Antonia Couling)

“I’d rather prove myself on stage and think about what’s essential and basic: total, complete honesty and absolute passion.”  (Kurier, Feb 04)  Translated by Monica

“No good careers are really sudden.  It’s two or three years since the world has known about José Cura, but there were another 20 before that.  I wasn’t invented by the media or my record company… I’m the result of hard work and that makes me feel comfortable.”   (Opera, October 1999 /John Allison) 

“The music world is fond of labeling people, but at the end of your life you will have to explain to that being who gave you your talents why you were so cowardly as to not use them all.”  (The Times, 20 March 04) 

"I like pushing things as far as things they can go in one direction, then step back to find a balance.  How do you know what your limits are otherwise?”  (Opera Now, Sept/Oct 2002)

“I don't understand why to be an opera singer you have to be ugly and why to be a sex symbol you have to be an idiot.”  (Independent, 15 Oct 1999  /Fiona Sturges)

"I am someone who has suffered and struggled, who has resisted and still managed to get to the top of the mountain through the storm – and I am proud of all that. If being proud of all I’ve done in my life after 25 years of hard work is arrogance, then I am arrogant!"  (Vima, July 2004 /Thanasis Lalas)

"There are artists who are technically perfect but otherwise they don't give you anything. The performance is over, you go to dinner and say O.K., that was nice but let's talk about something else.  On the other hand, when the performance ends and people cry, don't stop to applaud but race backstage with the wish to touch you, then it is a different story……" (Magazin Pravo, Oct 2003)