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

On conducting: If you can just barely hear the French horns on stage, the balance is perfect.

I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer.

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

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.