The scene opens with the conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Paris giving a performance of Beethoven's "Symphonie No.7." The piano player, Chikauchi, thanks the conductor for waiting so long to perform the piece. He feels that he has "failed" in his attempt to play the part of the conductor, and he wonders if he should change his name to "chikauchi" . The conductor tells him that he will have to audition for the piano position first, and the piano player is happy to hear this news. He is also happy to learn that the conductor is leaving for Vienna, where he will conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The young piano player wonders why no one has told him about the conductor's departure, and wonders if the conductor will be conducting the orchestra in Japan. He also wonders why the musicians in the orchestra are " making too much" of this year. He wonders if it is because they are too busy with their studies, or because the conductor himself is "a bit odd"