"One butt of many stories and much ridicule was Commendatore Pasquale di Costanzo, general manager of the San Carlo Opera in Naples. Di Costanzo owned a large upholstery business and was more of a fan than an expert. (...) When a San Carlo board member recommended Tristan and Isolde for the following season, di Costanzo panicked, 'No, no! That would cost too much! Maybe we could do Tristan next season and Isolde the year after."

( in Tanner, Stephen Toronto 1999, S. 143)