Hans Knappertsbusch conducted the "Salome"; he was known to be lazy and averse to rehearsing; we only went over a few passages in one rehearsal in the Crush Bar, followed by just one with the stage. He did not need more - he knew it, we knew it and our rapport was complete. He was tremendously tall and sat down all the time, giving a minimal beat, one in a bar or two if you were lucky. When he wanted to achieve a great crescendo at the very end of the opera he suddenly stood up and the effect on the orchestra was quite electrifying; we nearly blew the roof off the theatre. For years afterwards when "Salome" was discussed people would ask: "Where [sic] you there the night that Knappertsbusch stood up?" It was the only time I played for him and a great experience... << less