Seghers was a member of the Societe des Concerts at the Conservatoire. This reached only a restricted public and there was no other symphony concert worthy of the name in Paris at the time. And if the public was limited, the repertoire was even more so. Haydn"s, Mozart"s and Beethoven"s symphonies were played almost exclusively, and Mendelssohn"s were introduced with the greatest difficulty. Only fragments of vast compositions like the oratorios were given. An author who was still alive was looked upon as an intruder. However, the conductor was permitted to introduce a solo of his own selection. Thus my friend Auguste Tolbecque, who was over eighty, was permitted to give–he still played beautifully–my first _concerto_ for the violoncello which I had written for him. Deldevez, the conductor of the famous orchestra at the time, did not overlook the chance to tell me that he had put my _concerto_ on the programme only through consideration for Tolbecque. Otherwise, he added, he would have preferred Messieurs So-and-so"s.