Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menottiwas an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, along with over two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular taste...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionComposer
Date of Birth7 July 1911
CountryItaly
amsterdam cannot church hear italians listen melody sing
The Italians are very unmusical. If I go to a Protestant church in London or Amsterdam or listen to a black choir, I hear four-part harmony. Italians could never do that. In Italy, we all have to sing the melody because we cannot harmonise.
art
I'm not very sympathetic to the tendency to bring art to the people.
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It was my contention that opera can not only pay for itself if it is well given, but it can also command a much wider audience if given like a play with lots of rehearsals and wonderful singers that fit the role.
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It takes a Bobby White to make a tired 90-year-old composer write a song about love.
five hated
It's always what you did before. The year before is always so much better. Even when the critics hated what you did then, it always looks better five years later.
people whether
People ask me whether I'm religious. Well, in a certain way, I am.
became doctors madonna miraculous nanny pictures priest pulled took
As a little boy of 3 or 4, I became lame. Something was wrong with my right leg. There are pictures of me being pulled around in a little wagon. The doctors didn't know what to do. So my nanny took me to the miraculous Madonna at Sacro Monte in Varese, the priest blessed me, and I walked.
opera university
Now, all of a sudden, every college and every university has an opera theater. Every little city has its little group.
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I have the feeling that everybody was waiting for me to die so they could rediscover me. Then they found out I'm not dead yet, so they are rediscovering me while I'm still alive.
beethoven chopin schubert though time
I really don't think I have that much of the gift; I have a little bit, but I wish I were Schubert or Chopin or Beethoven, though Beethoven had a very difficult time writing melody, too.
liver loathe
I loathe my body. The liver spots, the sagging flesh.
art felt god music
I have always felt that art, especially music, is but a demonstration of God.
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I have a heart problem, so I have to simplify my life and be content with memories and friends and music.
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I guess I am running the risk of becoming the Hans Christian Andersen of opera.