Today is a big day - my first stage rehearsal. We worked intensively from ten until one, and got through almost all Act One. Anisfield's throne has been placed in its position on the stage, Smallens accompanied me on the piano, I conducted, the prompter - a very nice Frenchman - by my side, and Coini darting out now and then from behind his producer's desk. Things went with a swing from the word go, as the singers by now know the music well and in addition are having their chance to demonstrate their excellence as performers. When we rehearsed the scene with the King, the Prince and Truffaldino, everyone burst out laughing. Coini is not as bad as I thought, at leasy from the technical poin of view, and even came up with a really amusing sort of hopping jump when Pantalone hurls himself at Leander with cries of 'Traitor!' Altogether I was extremely well satisfied.