Emmanuel Chabrier
Quotations

"Art with a capital letter, serious art, is bogged down and stagnating"

 

"… my rhythms, my tubes will arouse the whole audience to a feverish pitch of excitement; everyone will embrace his neighbour madly--- and you, too, will be obliged to hug Dancla [leader of the orchestra] in your arms, so voluptuous will be my melodies."

 

"In Amsterdam…. I entertained five or six types who listened open-mouthed, but of course I had to play for them, so as not to be taken for an imbecile, the Carnaval de Venise, the Chalet and O mon Fernand and other such drivel…"