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."

The trouble with women in an orchestra is that if they're attractive it will upset my players and if they're not it will upset me.

The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.

Too much counterpoint; what is worse, Protestant counterpoint.

What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.

The grand tune is the only thing in music that the great public really understands.

If she is attractive, I can't perform with her; if she is not, then I won't.