Quote

There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between.

Thomas Beecham

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Thomas Beecham
Age: 81 †
Born: 1879
Born: April 29
Died: 1961
Died: March 8
Conductor
Sir Thomas Beecham
2nd Baronet
Doesn
Damn
Two
Golden
Give
Musical
Together
Rules
Togetherness
Music
Goes
Conductor
Giving
Public
Orchestra
Start
Composer
Funny
Finish

More quotes by Thomas Beecham

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The sound of a harpsichord - two skeletons copulating on a tin roof in a thunderstorm.
Thomas Beecham
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Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.
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The bagpipes sound exactly the same when you have finished as when you started
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It is quite untrue that British people don't appreciate music. They may not understand it but they absolutely love the noise it makes.
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I have just been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of it.
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If she is attractive, I can't perform with her if she is not, then I won't.
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If an opera cannot be played by an organ grinder, it's not going to achieve immortality.
Thomas Beecham
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Composers and musicians have always starved and, as this is a sentimental country, we think the tradition should be continued.
Thomas Beecham
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In the first movement alone, I took note of six pregnancies and at least four miscarriages.
Thomas Beecham
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Without question the most unpopular medium of musical sound in the world.
Thomas Beecham
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Elgar's first symphony is the musical equivalent of St Pancras Railway Station.
Thomas Beecham
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No woman is worth the loss of a night's sleep.
Thomas Beecham
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Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.
Thomas Beecham
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What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.
Thomas Beecham
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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.
Thomas Beecham
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Too much counterpoint what is worse, Protestant counterpoint.
Thomas Beecham
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Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it.
Thomas Beecham
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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.
Thomas Beecham
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The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.
Thomas Beecham
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At a rehearsal I let the orchestra play as they like. At the concert I make them play as I like.
Thomas Beecham