Quotes from Thomas Beecham

Movie music is noise... even more painful than my sciatica.

The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought.

Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory.

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

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

A musicologist is a man who can read music but cannot hear it.

The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.

Elgar's first symphony is the musical equivalent of St Pancras Railway Station.

Music first and last should sound well, should allure and enchant the ear. Never mind the inner significance.

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

I prefer Offenbach to Bach often.

Magical music never leaves the memory.

The British like any kind of music so long as it is loud.

Composers should write tunes that chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle.

We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again.

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.

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.

There are no woman composers, never have been and possibly never will be.

The English may not like music, but they absolutely love the noise it makes.

All the arts in America are a gigantic racket run by unscrupulous men for unhealthy women.

No operatic star has yet died soon enough for me.

I have just been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of it.

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