March 26. Greater Newburgh Symphonic Orchestra. The program had already been made in December and consisted of two Russian composers: Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. In recent weeks, consideration had been given to changing the program, yet if anything was perfectly appropriate, it was Shostakovich’s Ninth. The conductor, with a great sense of showmanship, also began the concert with the Ukrainian National Anthem, and asked the audience to rise for it.

Discussed with J how precise emotions are in music. It is certainly naive to assume that every person would understand this language equally, that it would have an incorruptible meaning. But is there no truth to that at all?