In Soviet historiography, 1929 is known as the year of the Great Turning Point, but Soviet music histories rarely give the year any special mention because there were no significant Party resolutions that had a direct bearing on musical life. Nevertheless, musicians at the time certainly felt the change, as the following passage in a letter from Boris Asafyev to Alban Berg attests:

Asafyev's assessment proved correct, and the change in policy did indeed take place (three years hence, Asafyev himself became an unlikely beneficiary). Even at this late stage, RAPM was still unable to take the lead. Of crucial importance was the First All-Russian Conference of Music Workers, held in mid-June. Bringing together over 800 delegates and guests, this musical forum was unprecedented in size, a demonstration of the Soviet leadership's new seriousness in seeking a unified policy on music.

The change of policy did not affect repertoire radically (aside from Wozzeck, as we shall see), and new music was still prominent on both the stage and in the concert hall. There was plenty of Stravinsky: Klemperer played Petrushka and Pulcinella; ASM made forays into the sphere of music theatre by staging Mavra (at Tsetetis, the Theatre Institute); Oedipus Rex and the Piano Concerto were also given their Soviet premieres.