To Be Alive, To Able To See,

...stories About [the German Composer Johannes] Brahms's Rudeness And Wit Amused Me In Particular. For Instance, I Loved The One About How A Great Wine Connoisseur Invited The Composer To Dinner. 'this Is The Brahms Of My Cellar,' He Said To His Guests, Producing A Dust-covered Bottle And Pouring Some Into The Master's Glass. Brahms Looked First At The Color Of The Wine, Then Sniffed Its Bouquet, Finally Took A Sip, And Put The Glass Down Without Saying A Word. 'don't You Like It?' Asked The Host. 'hmm,' Brahms Muttered. 'better Bring Your Beethoven!'

Music Is Not A Hobby, Not Even A Passion With Me; Music Is Me. I Feel What People Get Out Of Me Is This Outlook On Life, Which Comes Out In My Music. My Music Is The Last Expression Of All That.

My Father, Good Or Bad, Mistakes Or No, Had A Direct Line From His Heart To The Music To The People, To The Audience. He Played With Logic And His Own Inner Truth.

I Feel That Special Secret Current Between The Public And Me. I Can Hold Them With One Little Note In The Air, And They Will Not Breathe. That Is A Great, Great Moment.

Never Sound Pompous. You Always Sound Noble, Noble. Absolute Character Of Music Is Nobility. Even Popular Music Can Be Noble, You See. If It's Not Noble, Then It's Not Very Good... Music Is An Art Of Emotion, Of Nobility, Of Dignity, Of Greatness, Of Love, Of Tenderness. All That Must Be Brought Out In Music But Never A Show Of Pompousness.