Never look encouragingly at the brass, except with a short glance to give an important cue.

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

I shall never be converted, and I shall remain true to my old religion of the classics until my life’s end.

He’d be better off shoveling snow.

Never look at the trombones, you’ll just encourage them.

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.

Never look at the trombones, you'll just encourage them.

If you think that the brass is not blowing loud enough, mute it by a couple of degrees.

The most perfect melodic shapes are found in Mozart; he has the lightness of touch which is the true objective ... Listen to the remarkable expansion of a Mozart melody, to Cherubino's 'Voi che sapete', for instance. You think it is coming to an end, but it goes farther, even farther.