That evening and on the following morning I practised hard for Yesipova, and at noon was already at the Conservatoire. I went into her classroom. Everyone due to play today was there: Zakharov, Akhron and Vinogradov were thumping away at three pianos simultaneously, each playing their own pieces. I stood for a moment and then headed for the door. Zakharov called out, 'Where are you off to? This is just up your street, isn't it, all these lovely juicy dissonances!' I threw my music case at him and went out.