I may not be a first-rate composer, but I am a first-class second-rate composer. Richard Strauss More Quotes by Richard Strauss More Quotes From Richard Strauss The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but the most difficult to play. Richard Strauss voice play beautiful I want to be able to depict in music a glass of beer so accurately that every listener can tell whether it is a Pilsner or a Kulmbacher. Richard Strauss glasses want beer Ideas, like young wine, should be put in storage and taken up again only after they have been allowed to ferment and to ripen. Richard Strauss wine taken ideas I shall never be converted, and I shall remain true to my old religion of the classics until my life's end. Richard Strauss ends Its a funny thing Alice, dying is just the way I composed it in Tod und Verklärung. Richard Strauss funny-things dying way On conducting: If you can just barely hear the French horns on stage, the balance is perfect. Richard Strauss conducting balance perfect Never look at the trombones, you'll just encourage them. Richard Strauss trombone performing looks If you think that the brass is not blowing loud enough, mute it by a couple of degrees. Richard Strauss degrees couple thinking The most perfect melodic shapes are found in Mozart; he has the lightness of touch which is the true objective ... Listen to the remarkable expansion of a Mozart melody, to Cherubino's 'Voi che sapete', for instance. You think it is coming to an end, but it goes farther, even farther. Richard Strauss shapes perfect thinking He'd be better off shoveling snow. Richard Strauss better-off musical snow Must one become seventy years old to recognize that one's greatest strength lies in creating musical kitsch? Richard Strauss creating lying years Never look at the brass - it only encourages them. Richard Strauss brass music looks The aria, after all, is the soul of opera. Richard Strauss aria opera soul don't perspire while conducting - only the audience should get warm. Richard Strauss conducting audience should The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but it is the most difficult to play. Richard Strauss most-beautiful voice play beautiful Never let the horns and woodwinds out of your sight; if you can hear them at all, they are too loud. Richard Strauss your never you sight Bear in mind that you are not making music for your own pleasure, but for the pleasure of your audience. Richard Strauss your you music mind Never look encouragingly at the brass, except with a short glance to give an important cue. Richard Strauss short never look important
