Riccardo Muti

“A conductor should be a musician first, and then a conductor.”

“In Italy, opera is not just entertainment; it's part of our DNA.”

“Music is not a job. It's not a profession. It is a mission.”

“The orchestra is my instrument.”

“Culture is not a luxury, it's a necessity.”

“Silence is the most important thing in music.”

“The score is the Bible. We must be servants of the score.”

“When you make music, you are giving something of your soul to the public.”

“An orchestra can be a mirror of society.”

“Verdi is the composer of the people. He speaks to the heart.”

“You must have humility in front of the genius of the composer.”

“My duty is to be the composer's advocate.”

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

“Without art, humanity is lost.”

“To conduct is to give, not to take.”

“Applause is not the goal. The goal is to touch the soul.”

“The rehearsal is the place where you build, where you create.”

“Mozart is pure, like a crystal.”