More Vexations

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In my files I've discovered the program to the 1963 world premiere (unexpurgated version) of Satie's Vexations. Arthur Conescu, the co-manager of the Pocket Theatre, which presented the event, sent it to me after I reviewed the Roulette Vexations in 1993. The performers — Viola Farber, Robert Wood, MacRae Cook, John Cale, John Cage, Christian Wolff, David Del Tredici, David Tudor, Philip Corner, and James Tenney — each ended up performing five times. Notice the listings in the program for Special Mystery Guest Stars. One of these, according to the Times review, was "Joshua Rivkin," who I assume must have been the future Bach specialist Joshua Rifkin, then a Juilliard student. Another was the Times critic Howard Klein, who, the review claimed, substituted for a pianist who failed to show up — although Mr. Conescu informed me in his letter that Cage had given approval to Klein beforehand.