WFCC

Classical Fact

When Ottorino Respighi set his mind to composing, very little stood in his way. He would forgo eating and sleeping for days at a time while embroiled in his work. This work ethic had its drawbacks. Once, while at a formal dinner Respighi suddenly fell asleep with his head in a salad bowl. On the other hand, the composer also took his sleep quite seriously. Respighi took a compass with him on the road to ensure his head pointed west and feet to the east when he slept, believing this position was the most conducive to natural sleep.