Giuseppe Verdi quotes

Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer renowned for his operas, which are still widely performed around the world. His music is celebrated for its emotional depth and powerful melodies. He became a leading figure in the history of opera and influenced generations of composers. Here are 9 of his quotes:

You may have the universe if I may have Italy.

Giuseppe Verdi

I adore art... when I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and my emotion and my joys are too much to bear.

Giuseppe Verdi

I deny that either singers or conductors can "create" or work creatively – this, as I have always said, is a conception that leads to the abyss.

Giuseppe Verdi

Really superior artists judge without being prejudiced by school, nationality or period. If the artists of north and south exhibit different tendencies, it is good that they are different!

Giuseppe Verdi

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

Let us turn to the past: that will be progress.

Giuseppe Verdi

I wish that every young man when he begins to write music would not concern himself with being a melodist, a harmonist, a realist, an idealist or a futurist or any other such devilish pedantic things. Melody and harmony should be simply tools in the hands of the artist, with which he creates music; and if a day comes when people stop talking about the German school, the Italian school, the past, the future, etc., etc., then art will perhaps come into its own.

Giuseppe Verdi

Show pity I beg you... We have today been struck down by fortune But tomorrow it may be your own turn to die.

Giuseppe Verdi