Berlioz on editorial license

“You musicians, you poets, prose-writers, actors, pianists, conductors, whether of third or second or even first rank, you do not have the right to meddle with a Shakespeare or a Beethoven, in order to bestow on them the blessings of your knowledge and taste.”

– Hector Berlioz, on tampering with fine creations (in this case, 1801 Paris performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute)

Cited in: Mac Donald, Heather, “Classical Music’s New Golden Age”, City Journal, Summer 2010, vol 20, no. 3, accessed 21 July 2010.

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