Pierre Monteux Quotes

French conductor (1875-1964)

Pierre Monteux (4 April 1875 – 1 July 1964, in Paris, France) was a conductor who directed over 100 orchestras around the world. He began his career in Paris in music-hall, chamber music and as the principal viola of the Colonne Orchestra. He was in turn principal conductor of the Ballets Russes, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. As a conductor he premiered several important works, and left a major legacy of recordings.

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Alternative Names: Pierre Benjamin Monteux

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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.

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.

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."