We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming.

The first show I ever did singing and dancing was 'Beauty and the Beast.' I was playing Gaston. Gaston has red tights knee high boots and it's very physical. I had headaches every day for two months.

If architecture had nothing to do with art it would be astonishingly easy to build houses but the architect's task - his most difficult task - is always that of selecting.

It was the drawing that led me to architecture the search for light and astonishing forms.

I think I came across Cecil Taylor a bit later in 65 or 66. That really impressed me - Cecil Taylor is an amazing character... Both his music and the way he approaches the instrument are astonishing.

Those who remember Washington's cold war culture in the 1980s will recall the shocked reactions to Reagan's intervention. People interested in foreign policy were astonished when in 1985 he met alone at Geneva - alone not a single strategic thinker at his elbow! - with the Soviet Communist master Gorbachev.