The most perfect melodic shapes are found in Mozart; he has the lightness of touch which is the true objective ... Listen to the remarkable expansion of a Mozart melody, to Cherubino's 'Voi che sapete', for instance. You think it is coming to an end, but it goes farther, even farther.

Its a funny thing Alice, dying is just the way I composed it in Tod und Verklärung.

The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but the most difficult to play.

Never look at the trombones, you'll just encourage them.

The aria, after all, is the soul of opera.

Must one become seventy years old to recognize that one's greatest strength lies in creating musical kitsch?

I want to be able to depict in music a glass of beer so accurately that every listener can tell whether it is a Pilsner or a Kulmbacher.