A soprano in Massenet's Don Quixote complained that she had missed her entry in the aria, "because Mr. Challiapin always dies too soon." "Madam, you must be profoundly in error," said Sir Thomas, "No operatic star has yet died half soon enough for me."

At a rehearsal I let the orchestra play as they like. At the concert I make them play as I like.

The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.

If an opera cannot be played by an organ grinder, it's not going to achieve immortality.

Movie music is noise. It's even more painful than my sciatica.

There are no woman composers, never have been and possibly never will be.

Her singing reminds me of a cart coming downhill with the brake on.