Just to sit in on this class is pure pleasure. The students play very well, Yesipova's comments and explanations are fabulously interesting. Overall it is on a much higher and more intelligent plane than other, 'ordinary' classes; one has the impression that the best talents in the Conservatoire are collected here, even the room and the pianos are better quality. It is like being translated from the depths of the countryside into the cream of Petersburg society . . .