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.

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

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

You may have the universe if I may have Italy.

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

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.

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.