“If we let fashion, love of innovation, and an alleged scientific spirit tempt us to surrender the native quality of our own art, the free natural certainty of our work and perception, our bright golden light, then we are simply being stupid and senseless.”

— Giuseppe Verdi

Si rinunci per moda, per smania di novità, per affettazione di scienza, si rinneghi l'arte nostra, il nostro istinto, quel nostro fare sicuro spontaneo naturale sensibile abbagliante di luce, è assurdo e stupido.
Letter to Clarina Maffei, April 20, 1878, cited from Franco Abbiati Giuseppe Verdi (Milano: Ricordi, 1959) vol. 4, p. 79; translation from Franz Werfel and Paul Stefan (eds.), Edward Downes (trans.) Verdi: The Man in His Letters (New York: L. B. Fischer, 1942) p. 345.

Original

Source: Da una lettera a Clara Maffei, [20] aprile 1878 citato in Franz Werfel, Verdi. L'uomo nelle sue lettere, Lit Edizioni, 2014, p. 253 https://books.google.it/books?id=8hMwBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT253. ISBN 8868267217

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Nov. 16, 2021. History

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Giuseppe Verdi 8

Italian composer 1813–1901

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