I change many things, discard others, and try again and again until I am satisfied; then, in my head, I being to elaborate the work in its breadth, its narrowness, its height, its depth...I hear and see the image in front of me from every angle as if it had been cast and only the labour of writing it down remains.

I can live only wholly with you or not at all.

It is the power of music to carry one directly into the mental state of the composer.

Art! Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult concerning this great goddess?

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

Life would be flat without music. It is the background to all I do. It speaks to the heart in its own special way like nothing else.

All my life I have regarded myself as one of Mozart's greatest admirers, and I will remain one until my last breath.