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."

Music first and last should sound well, should allure and enchant the ear. Never mind the inner significance.

Elgar's first symphony is the musical equivalent of St Pancras Railway Station.

The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought.

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

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

I find brass bands have a melancholy sound. All right out of doors, of course - fifty miles away. Like bagpipes, they turn what had been a dream into a public nuisance.