As death approaches, I believe that an artist must cast off anything that’s restraining him. And an artist must be resolute in creating, whatever time he has left, in absolute freedom.
The world wants us to be only one thing and I find that deplorable.[to Felicia]
The gift comes with burdens.
I thought maybe you were worth making an exception for.[Leonard Bernstein: Hold on a sec. You made an exception for me?]
I have one or two saving factors. One is it that I love people, and I love music. I love music so much it keeps me glued to life even when I’m most depressed. And I can get very deeply depressed. But I have a work ethic and that keeps me afloat. And the other is that I love people so much that it’s hard for me to be alone.
Anything that has to do with music is my province, wouldn’t you say? Whether it’s composing it or conducting it, or teaching it, or studying it, or playing it. As long as it’s music, I like it and I do it.
