Sergey Prokofiev diaries: 1 June 1925

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We should have moved from Bellevue today, but because of today's rehearsal have put it off until tomorrow. It was a two-part rehearsal: two hours of strings, and two of wind. At Koussevitzky's request I started it off, while he say with the score to acquaint himself with it. I have not conducted for almost five years, moreover I have done hardly any work on my Symphony from the perspective of the conductor, and there are some very tricky places in it, for example a 6/4 and a 3/2 in the first movement recapitulation. It was extremely hard work rehearsing, and I was very glad when Koussevitzky finally chased me off the podium and took charge himself. I could then look at the score in peace and quiet myself. After two hours the string players departed, to be replaced by the wind players, and again I worked worked with them first, followed by Koussevitzky. I find it hard to say precisely what my impression was: on the whole it was not favourable, but this is usually the way when a new work is being split up into sections. The orchestra read the notes not too badly and generally behaved fairly decently to the music and to me.

excerpt from 'Sergey Prokofiev diaries: 1 June 1925' pp. 169 (205 words)

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