Of course there is no formula for success, except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life, and what it brings
At every concert I leave a lot to the moment. I must have the unexpected, the unforeseen. I want to risk, to dare. I want to be surprised by what comes out. I want to enjoy it more than the audience. That way the music can bloom anew. It's like making love. The act is always the same, but each time it's different.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Embracing spontaneity in performance can enhance creativity and enjoyment.
This quote expresses the importance of spontaneity and risk-taking in artistic expression, particularly in music. Arthur Rubinstein highlights how an artist's willingness to embrace the unexpected allows for a fresh experience in every performance, similar to the evolving nature of intimate relationships. This attitude not only enhances the artist's enjoyment but also allows for a richer experience for the audience, illustrating how creativity can thrive in an environment of freedom and exploration.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech at a music festival to encourage artists to embrace improvisation.
More from Arthur Rubinstein
All quotes →Sometimes when I sit down to practice and there is no one else in the room, I have to stifle an impulse to ring for the elevator man and offer him money to come in and hear me.
Composing a concert is like composing a menu.... If you start with light pieces and play a 45-minute sonata after the interlude, it's like starting dinner with hors d'oeuvres and dessert and finishing with a Châteaubriand and vegetables.
To be alive, to be able to see, to walk, to have houses, music, paintings - it's all a miracle. I have adopted the technique of living life miracle to miracle.
I'm a free person; I feel terribly free. They could put me in chains and I still would be free because my thoughts would be mine - and that's all I want to have.
To be alive, to able to see, to walk...it's all a miracle. I have adapted the technique of living life from miracle to miracle.
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