"Conductors must give unmistakable and suggestive signals to the orchestra—not choreography to the audience."

George Szell

"I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization whenever you can."

Virgil Thomson, composer and music critic

"Music conveys moods and images. Even in opera, where plots deal with the structure of destiny, it's music, not words, that provides power."

Marcel Marceau

"Too many pieces of music finish too long after the end."

Igor Stravinsky

"When she started to play, Steinway came down personally and rubbed his name off the piano."

Bob Hope