Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

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

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

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.

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.

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.

I deny that either singers or conductors can "create" or work creatively - this, as I have always said, is a conception that leads to the abyss.