about five minutes to eight
It was noticed by more than one member of the Leipsic Philharmonic Orchestra that Herr Director Von Barwig was in unusually high spirits that evening . Many attributed it to the fact that he was nervous because of the first production of his new symphony . Karlschmidt hinted to his deskmate that Von Barwig was nervous and was trying to conceal it by pretending to be delighted with everything and everybody . This was probably true in a measure ; at all events , when he came into the artists ' room at the Gewandhaus at about five minutes to eight , he shook hands with everybody , joked with his men , and talked almost incessantly , as if he wanted to keep at high pressure . Poons watched him closely . Von Barwig was unusually pale , and as he slapped his concert meister on the back Poons noticed that , though his face wore a smile , his lips quivered . `` For heaven 's sake , '' he heard him say to the leader of the second violins , `` do n't play the _ pizzicato _ in the third movement as if you were picking up eggs ! ''