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

Without question the most unpopular medium of musical sound in the world.

As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?

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

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."

Beethoven's last quartets were written by a deaf man and should only be listened to by a deaf man.

Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.