
“Stravinsky, 'e can do what 'e like, but I have to do what ze composer 'as written.”
Quoted from Smith, Erik (2005). "Pierre Monteux". Mostly Mozart – Articles, memoirs, rarities and surprises. Winchester: Porcellini Publications. ISBN 0-9544259-1-X, pp. 36–38
Diaghilev asked him to conduct Stravinsky's new Les Noces with no rehearsal, as the composer would already have conducted the first performance, Monteux following on from there.