The finest singing, given a good voice to begin with, comes from the constant play of a fine mind upon the inner meaning of the music.

Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, and Mozart settled down day after day to the job in hand. They didn't waste time waiting for inspiration.

The great-at-anything do not set to work because they are inspired, but rather become inspired because they are working. They don't waste time waiting for inspiration.

A good composer is slowly discovered and a bad composer is slowly found out.

The higher the voice the smaller the intellect.

I had no idea Stravinsky disliked Debussy so much as this.

For my part, if I had the power I would insist on all oratorios being sung in the costume of the period - with a possible exception in the case of the Creation.