The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor or a prima donna.

A man like Verdi must write like Verdi.

Of all composers, past and present, I am the least learned. I mean that in all seriousness, and by learning I do not mean knowledge of music.

Our mistake, you see, was to write interminable large operas, which had to fill an entire evening. And now along comes someone with a one or two-act opera without all that pompous nonsense - that was a happy reform.

It may be a good thing to copy reality; but to invent reality is much, much better.

Oh, you happy sons of the North who have been reared at the bosom of Bach, how I envy you!

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiraton, and if he has a true talent, no one knows and feels better than he what suits him.

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

Through care taken over trends, the desire to be novel and affectation knowledge, we repudiate our art, our instinct, our own way of doing things; it is absurd and stupid

To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.

It is better to invert reality than to copy it.

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiration... I should compose with utter confidence a subject that set my musical blood going, even though it were condemned by all other artists as anti-musical.

I have striven for perfection, it has always eluded me, but I surely had an obligation to make one more try.

I adore art... when I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and my emotion and my joys are too much to bear.

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiraton, and if he has a true talent, no one knows and feels better than he what suits him.

Oh, you happy sons of the North who have been reared at the bosom of Bach, how I envy you!

To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.