Sergey Prokofiev diaries: 7 May 1913

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text excerpt

Wrote my diary and around two o'clock went in to rehearsal. I had to conduct a lot today, mainly the Karnovich and Shaposhnikov pieces. I also went through the Tchaikovsky Concerto just with the orchestra. It is a wonderful feeling to conduct this work. An incident occurred during the rehearsal of Karnovich's Variations. The principal flute did not turn up at all to the previous rehearsal; this time he was there but played a lot of wrong notes and in one place failed to play the theme. Tcherepnin screamed: 'What's this, are we short of a flute again?'

I responded, from on high, 'We have one, but he cannot play!'

The flautist got very angry and growled, 'You watch what you're saying!'

This was an intolerable situation for a conductor to be in. I was on the point of making a great scandal 'calling in the Director' but on reflection decided this would be in no one's interests and that I had better resolve the situation myself. I sternly informed the flautist that he did not know how to behave in an orchestra, that he had no right to be insolent to the conductor, and that by doing so he merely revealed his own lack of manners. I shouted very loudly, slapping my baton down on the score, the orchestra fell silent and the rehearsal proceeded.

excerpt from 'Sergey Prokofiev diaries: 7 May 1913' pp. 396 (229 words)

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