The next events were focused on the final rehearsal followed a day later by the performance of Quintet for Groups. The first move in this direction was locating me where I could communicate back and forth with the conductor. The obvious choice, the first row of seats, was occupied by ticketed audience members, who clearly prized their seating. Locating me next to one of these seat-holders in the aisle (using my wheelchair) also proved a problem, until, after much trial and error one man offered to cooperate. Keeping a positive attitude was key in this adjustment, but what made a real difference was the conversation the conductor had with me.
Realizing quickly that I would have a difficult time coming to him to make any comments or suggestions, he jumped down from the stage and came to me. Introducing himself he made it clear that he liked my composition very much and hoped I would let him present to me his interpretation of it. I assured him that I would be amenable. He pointedly went on to say that his entire conducting career had, from the end of World War II been in East Germany, which he hoped would pose no problems. I told him that this would be no problem, and given my commitment to discuss the piece with students at the Universität der Künste in East Berlin it probably would be an asset. I explained that my attitude to this composition is like that of an abstract expressionist painter to one of his paintings: the relations between the groups might be productive of many programmatic interpretations, any one of which was as valid or as irrelevant as any other. I said that meeting him already gave me confidence that I would like his version of the composition. And this was very much the way our rehearsal went.
By the time we reached the placing of the Quintet in relation to the other works on the concert, I sensed a kind of increase of empathy with many of the orchesra players and even with some of the audience. When the composer of the first piece assured me he felt his composition made an appropriate introduction to mine. I sensed a real, not just a polite affirmation. And I was more than ready to reciprocate in kind, as it might be suitable.
Conclusion to come.