Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture.

“...the overture began. God! Strings! Oboes! Timpani! Are you fucking kidding me? Why, when we know what human beings are capable of doing, do…

— Meg Howrey

“The symphony had its origin not in instrumental forms like the concerto grosso, as one might have expected, but in the overture of early…

— Aaron Copland

The classical music scene was completely unfamiliar to me. It was something that I didn't have the most fun associations around. A lot of…

— Lola Kirke

“There were tightly wound strings shivering in the air as the overture began in full.”

— E.K. Johnston

The audience is requested not to refrain from talking during the overture. Otherwise they will know all the tunes before the opera begins.

— Ralph Vaughan Williams

The 'Carousel' overture has always been one of my all-time favorite pieces of music.

— Kelli O'Hara

No affair that begins with such an orchestrated overture can end on a simple note.

— Sloane Crosley

The beginning of Book Three is the last one that I drew, where V's conducting the 1812 overture.

— David Lloyd

I pinch myself every night when I hear the overture starting. I'm so overwhelmed by the whole process, and humbled and giddy all at…

— Tituss Burgess

The point of recapitulation in the first movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony unleashes one of the most horrifyingly violent episodes in the history of…

— Susan McClary

“He had said it bravely, and that is why one can trust Beethoven when he says other things.”

— E.M. Forster

“That Beethoven was capable of producing the ultimate musical definition of heroism in this context is itself extraordinary, for he was able to evoke…

— Maynard Solomon

And now, in honour of the 150th anniversary of Beethoven's death, I would like to play 'Clear the Saloon', er, 'Clair de Lune', by…

— Victor Borge

I believe so, but at first he must know. He must know in which spirit Beethoven has composed this piece. He must try to…

— Kurt Masur

For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.

— Cornel West