I went into the Small Hall where the graduating pianists were giving their final exam performances, many of them very good, some Yesipova students, almost 'tomorrow's standard'*. The audience was large, a full house. Before playing to Tcherepnin I had looked in on the Small Hall, but at that time it had been the interval and the audience was outside in the foyer. As soon as I entered people started noticing me, looking at me and whispering. I am definitely the star turn of tomorrow! Among the crowd I noticed Lida and Zoya, who had come to hear Elfrieda Hansen. Now the Tcherepnin play-through was over, I arrived right in the middle of the Yesipova class performances. Tietz played extremely well; Hansen, Berlin and Tseitlin decently, but not spectacularly. Once again, all eyes were on me.