New Orts #83

August 17 MMXXV

Exit in case of Brahms
— Philip Hale's proposed inscription over the doors of Boston's Symphony Hall
[Philip Hale (1854-1934) was a music critic, writing for the Boston Post (1890-91), Boston Journal (1891-1903), and Boston Herald (1903-34). He wrote the program notes for the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1901 until his death.]

There are some experiences in life which should not be demanded twice from any man, and one of them is listening to the Brahms Requiem.
— George Bernard Shaw

Oh how wonderful, really wonderful, opera would be if there were no singers!
— Gioacchino Rossini (composer of dozens of operas -- all with singers)

I liked the opera very much. Everything but the music.
— Benjamin Britten, on Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress

Why is it that whenever I hear a piece of music I don't like, it's always by Villa Lobos?
— Igor Stravinsky

just for fun: a phonics lesson

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