Myaskovsky suffered what seems to be a nervous breakdown that caused him to lose the use of his arm and his leg, but has now recovered and is applying himself once again with great energy to composition, two symphonies in the space of two months. He played them to us at Suvchinsky's. In my opinion they are a great advance on his Third, possessing unity, brilliance and an absence of tedious moralising. The Fourth is stronger and more brilliant, but the Fifth more arresting, with its change of direction towards major key modes and a pastoral atmosphere.