Opera is a musical scenery, a musical atmosphere in which the characters move and talk.

Je suis venu au monde tres jeune dans un temps tres vieux

Before I compose a piece, I walk round it several times, accompanied by myself.

We cannot doubt that animals both love and practice music. That is evident. But it seems their musical system differs from ours. It is another school....We are not familiar with their didactic works. Perhaps they don't have any.

Last year I gave several lectures on "Intelligence and Musicality among Animals" ... Today I am going to speak to you about "Intelligence and Musicality among Critics" ... The subject is much the same, with some modifications, of course.

I have never written a note I didn't mean.

I eat only white foods: eggs, sugar, grated bones, the fat of dead animals; veal, salt, coconut, chicken cooked in white water; fruit mold, rice, turnips; camphorated sausage, dough, cheese (white), cotton salad, and certain fish (skinless).