Matteo is about to leave the rehearsal after his argument with Marioni. Irene is there in the auditorium, having learned about the warning to Marioni, and wants to be there for him. He asks her to stick around.

The kids get together to practice all together as instructed by Marioni. However, when they start talking about themselves, they lose the desire to play and change their plans.

Marioni puts Matteo to the test, asking him to play first violin in the Brahms symphony, together with the entire orchestra. Later, Domenico tells him about someone who had crumbled under Marioni's harsh treatment.