Pierre Monteux Quotes

Don’t overconduct; don’t make unnecessary movements or gestures

Madame, everyone is Someone.

On finishing early at a rehearsal the London Symphony Orchestra leader Hugh Maguire said to Monteux: "Oh Maitre it is so nice to finish early. My wife will be so surprised." Monteux replied: "Be careful. You might be surprised!"

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."

Young conductors talk too much.

I decided then and there that the symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms were the only music for me, not the music of this crazy Russian. … My one desire was to flee that room and find a quiet corner in which to rest my aching head. Then Diaghilev turned to me and with a smile said, "This is a masterpiece, Monteux, which will completely revolutionize music and make you famous, because you are going to conduct it." And, of course, I did.

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 come before the orchestra is you have not mastered the score; don’t practise or learn the score ‘on the orchestra’

I regret they don't have symphony orchestras all over the world so I could see Burma and Samarkand.

'E does not know 'is métier.

Don’t be disrespectful to your players (no swearing)

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 is a forte, play forte'. He did not want anything shimmering. And he wanted everything exactly in time.

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 has always been my favourite.

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

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.