Pierre Monteux

"Now that was very impressive. But before you try to impress the ladies in the balcony, make sure the horns come in."

"Debussy was behind me when we played L'après-midi d'un faune because he did not want anything in his score to be changed on account of the dancing. And when we came to a forte, he said 'Monteux, that …"

"Told, during the days of segregation in the US, that he couldn't be served as he was trying to take breakfast at a restaurant "for colored folk", he insisted: "But we are colored, my dear. We are pink…"

"I have always felt rather badly for orchestra musicians, especially the stringed instrument player who certainly in his youth expected to be a virtuoso… I admire their patience and ability, and throug…"

"In earlier days I used to like introducing new music in concerts but now I feel that I have done my duty to young composers… so I return to my first love Romantic music – and especially to Brahms who …"

"I always dreamed in my youth of a great, consuming love. I was often disappointed and returned each time to my music for consolation. It never failed me."

"I never conduct any of the ballets I conducted for the Ballets Russes, without my mind's eye being completely aware of the dancers."

"Don’t conduct solo instruments in solo passages; don’t worry or annoy sections or players by looking intently at them in ‘ticklish’ passages"