“I vowed as I left the Opera that I would be a musician come what might, despite father, mother, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and friends.”

“To the astonishment of everyone, [Cherubini] and servant pursued me round the table, knocking over stools and reading-desks in the vain effort to catch me, until at last I escaped, calling out with a laugh as I vanished: ‘You shall neither have me nor my name, and I shall soon come back and study Gluck’s scores again!'”