65 Quotes by Thomas Beecham

It is quite untrue that British people don’t appreciate music. They may not understand it but they absolutely love the noise it makes.

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.”

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

Movie music is noise. It’s even more painful than my sciatica.

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

When asked whether he minded if someone smoked in a non-smoking compartment. Certainly not if you don’t object if I’m sick.

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.

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

No woman is worth the loss of a night’s sleep.