Sibelius was sitting in on a rehearsal and, during the break, was chatting to the evening's young soloist, who came out with the well-worn truism that ’if I don't practise for one day, then I shall know; if I don't practise for two days, my teacher will know; and if I don't practise for three days, then the audience will know.’

‘Very true’, replied Sibelius quietly. ‘And if you don't practise for four days, then the critics will know.’

You would think the critics would be able to tell immediately after the one day, what with all their erected statues ...