Górecki himself recalled that, at the premiere, he sat next to a "prominent French musician" (Górecki did not name names, though it was probably Pierre Boulez), who, after hearing the twenty-one repetitions of an A-major chord at the end of the symphony, loudly exclaimed "Merde!"
O propio Górecki lembrou que, na estrea, sentou ao carón dun "prominente músico francés" (Górecki non deu nomes, aínda que probablemente se tratara de Pierre Boulez), quen, logo de escoitar 21 repeticións dun acorde de la maior ao final da sinfonía, exclamou en voz alta "Merde!"