Debussy
I'm rereading an old book by Debussy, "Monsieur Croche the Dilettante Hater" and I had forgotten just how funny some of it is.
on virtuosos -
"During the last few weeks there has been a great influx of German conductors. This is not as serious as an epidemic, though it makes more noise, a conductor being multiplied by ninety."
on opera -
"Everybody knows our national Opera House, at least by repute. I can assure you from painful experience that it has not changed. ... They continue to produce curious noises which the people who pay call music, but there is not need to believe them implicitly."
on virtuosos -
"During the last few weeks there has been a great influx of German conductors. This is not as serious as an epidemic, though it makes more noise, a conductor being multiplied by ninety."
on opera -
"Everybody knows our national Opera House, at least by repute. I can assure you from painful experience that it has not changed. ... They continue to produce curious noises which the people who pay call music, but there is not need to believe them implicitly."