“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

“Beauty and fullness of tone can be achieved by having the whole orchestra play with high clarinets and a carefully selected number of piccolos.”

“The real art of conducting consists in transitions.”

“In its beginnings, music was merely chamber music, meant to be listened to in a small space by a small audience.”

“If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.”

“Spring won't let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.”

“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.”

“The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star but to go one's way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause.”

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

“I have enjoyed most particularly reading the correspondence between Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. The genuine friendship, competitiveness and support that thread through their communications are life lessons for us all.”