SCOTTISH TRIUMPH

Peter Haydn Pike is mistaken (Letters, September) in stating that the USSR State Symphony Orchestra failed to appear at the Edinburgh Festival after the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. In fact, after their Proms appearance, the orchestra gave a memorable concert in Usher Hall. It was not just memorable for the superb performances, but also for the request that we should refrain from applause. This request my friends and I felt unable to accede to, as evidenced by a photograph that appeared in the following day’s Scotsman newspaper!