On 31st December of 2016, the recruitment for Wei Ais deputy concertmaster officially came to a close.
Numerous reporters rushed towards Dorenza and the others that walked out of the Musikverein.
All kinds of microphones were shoved at Wei Ais executives, but Dorenza kept his peaceful temper and just smiled gently, The result of todays recruitment will have to wait until the orchestra members meeting confirms it. Once the personnel is finalized, I will be sure to inform you as soon as I can.
A particularly witty journalist suddenly asked, Its just the confirmation, thenMr. Dorenza, have you compiled the final candidates for the deputy concertmaster?
Dorenza shook his head and chuckled, I feel that every candidate is strong and its very difficult for me to choose. I might give you the answer by the end of tomorrows New Years concert.
After that, Dorenza left the Musikverein under the escort of Wei Ais security personnels. On the other hand, Qi Mu left from another exit, avoiding the reporters with ease, wearing a white baseball cap.
With Dorenza attracting attention just by being present, even Qi Mu looked overdressed.
When Qi Mu arrived at Lances home, the gentle maestro had already prepared a sumptuous dinner. This made Qi Mu quite abashed, as he felt he should have returned earlier and helped prepare dinner.
Seeing the youths guilt, Lance smiled gently and said, Little SevenI dont think we would have the time to prepare for dinner if we started now. Its 4: 32 already, are you sure we could make it? While saying this, Lance switched on the TV and turned up the volume.
Lances house was simple and decorated in a retro style. His television was an old type, the one with a big bulk on its back which should be a model from twenty or so years ago. However, he had two excellent stereo systems, Qi Mu had experienced it before. The sound was a loud roar in his ears.
After dinner, Qi Mu put the leftover food into the microwave and waited for the concert to broadcast. Right then, both of them sat in front of the TV, watching the magnificent concert hall gradually fill with people and turn from noisy to calm.
When the female host introduced the grand cla.s.sical music concert to the audience in fluent German, Qi Mu started pouring a cup of black coffee for Lance. He heard the maestro say, I sat here every year and listened to the same words by the host every year. Little Seven, when will we actually go and listen to it live?
Qi Mu was stunned for a moment before nodding, Okay, Mr. Lance. Lets go to Berlin to watch the concert live next year with Teacher, all three of us together.
The Berlin Philharmonic New Years concert was different from the Vienna Philharmonics. The former was usually held in Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall at 4:00 to 5:00 p.m on December 31st, welcoming the new year with beautiful and moving music while the latter gave a brilliant performance at the Golden Saal at 11:00 a.m, on January 1st.
Right then, Qi Mu was watching Bai Ais New Years Concert at Lances house.
The applause never stopped once the orchestra members stepped on the stage. When Christole also came up, a handsome man with his back straight also came up with him and bowed to the audience.
Then, the voice of the beautiful female host rang again, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras New Years Concert is still being lead by Mr. Auston von Bertram, the chief conductor of the orchestra along with Mr. Christole Shlott, their concertmaster. This years performance will be Hindemiths Third Symphony
Qi Mu had known that mans track list a while ago, but now that he listened to the repertoire again, he was surprised to discover that the man who always evaded the norm would actually end the New Years concert with the solemn Pathetique Symphony!
Qi Mu cant help but be reminded of the fact that a year ago, this man also played the majestic Destiny Symphony to end his tour with Bai Ai on Huaxia, which was of course, out of the norm!
Qi Mu couldnt refrain himself from mumbling, Who would actually play Pathetique on New Year
But Master Lance shook his head and said with a smile, Maybe Auston can conduct a completely different Pathetique? Little Seven, lets listen first.
Qi Mu nodded gently and before long, the orchestra finished tuning their instruments.
After Min Chen and Christole looked at each other, the conductors baton gently rose and a fierce sound erupted. The Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall suddenly went silent and only the struggling sound of violins was heard, giving the audience gooseb.u.mps!
The first piece was Hindemiths Third Symphony followed by Dvoraks Slavonic Dances
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras timbre was purely blazing, like purest metal clanging, without a trace of any other noise. The tubas boomed, trumpets roared in a linger, the cellos whimpered and the violins screamed. Each sound seemed to have been divided into countless fragments and entered the audiences ears, flowing to their hearts.
Someone once commented on Bai Ais music: They have pure metallic timbre, the most orthodox and cla.s.sic tune. No one in the world could surpa.s.s Bai Ai on the stage of symphony music, just like no one dares to deny that Beethoven was the most worthy to be king of cla.s.sical music!
The symphony music flowed one piece after another from the stereo. In the s.p.a.cious living room, neither of the two made any movements, just enjoying the wonderful music together.
Until the Pathetique Symphony resounded.
When he heard a segment of the piece, Qi Mu looked at Lance in surprise. Lance also looked back at him and nodded with a smile.
Sure enough, as Lance said, since Min Chen dared to perform Tchaikovskys Pathetique Symphony as the closing piece, it was naturally impossible for him to perform a run-of-the-mill piece.
By the end of the sad yet hopeful Pathetique, the whole Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Hall ushered in a warm applause. Before the TV, Qi Mu and Lance also clapped their hands.
Emotionally, Lance said, Its really a pity that I didnt go to this years concert, ah! Little Seven, Auston is really a genius. I think that in the next 50 years, no one will dare to adapt Pathetique.
Qi Mu nodded with a smile. He glanced at the cold-looking man on TV, his eyes soft, Mr. Lance, I also like this Pathetique. Its sad but not desolate, painful but not full of despair. Its a really good piece.
When it came to outstanding musical works, Qi Mus praise always came from the bottom of his heart. He would never be biased just because the conductor and composer was his lover. Therefore, when he said he liked this version of Pathetique, he was really proud of Min Chen.
After the concert ended, Qi Mu helped Lance take the food out of the microwave. Slowly pouring red wine into Lances gla.s.s, the two continued their interrupted dinner.
At the dinner table, Lance asked Qi Mu about Bai Ais concert with concern, asking whether Min Chen had informed Qi Mu about anything in advance. After Qi Mu answered the questions one by one, he said, Auston always surprises his audience and gives us plenty of expectations!
After the two laughed and exchanged another few more words, Lance suddenly asked, By the way, did Dorenza tell you when youre going to go to the orchestra?
Hearing this, Qi Mu cut the steak in his plate and it took him a while to reply. With a smile, he looked up at Lance and asked, Mr. Lance, youHow did you know I pa.s.sed the audition? Mr. Dorenza said he would not make a decision until the general a.s.sembly of the orchestra agreed.
The white-haired old man shook his head with a smile, I have been busy cooking delicious dinner in the afternoon and had no time to talk to Dorenza. But Little Seven, I believe in your skills. Did youDid you fail?
Facing the old mans kind smile, Qi Mu didnt conceal anything and directly told him everything that happened that afternoon. After hearing that Qi Mu had adapted Beethovens work, he was surprised and asked Qi Mu to play it once for him.
After listening to Qi Mus performance, Lance sighed and said, Little Seven, I once told your teacher that your skills surpa.s.sed mine, but youre slightly inferior in the emotional understanding. However, I think your third movement of BeethovensD Major has completely surpa.s.sed me. Im afraid even your teacher couldnt play this piece as ardently as you do, even if he returned to his highest point.
Qi Mu shook his head at such a high praise and said, Mr. Lance, this is just a momentary inspiration.
In return, Lance also shook his head, Little Seven, inspiration is also a facet of talent, and talent is strength. I believe that Dorenza was really happy when he heard your Third Movement. No wonder he excitedly told you to report to the orchestra right after their New Years concert tomorrow. Hes really looking forward to your arrival.
Qi Mu left Lances house with the gifts and alb.u.ms the old man gave him.
It was nighttime and the moon hung dimly in the sky. The streets of Vienna were quite deserted, few people went out on New Years Eve, even the usually crowded subway was quite vacant, as only few seats were occupied.
When Qi Mu returned home, he felt a rare sense of loneliness.
Huaxia was seven hours ahead of Vienna, and Zheng Wei Qiao and Tan Lao had already wished him a happy new year several hours earlier. However, the apartment was so large that it made him feel he was too small and helpless.
After putting his violin in the piano room, Qi Mu didnt leave. Instead, he sat on the stool before the piano. Pulling up the piano key cover, he pressed gently on the black and white keys. Although the sound produced didnt turn into a melody, the Steinways pure and superior quality timbre made the sound beautiful.
When Qi Mu pressed the thirty-fourth note, his phone rang.
Qi Mu immediately answered it and heard a deep and magnetic voice, calling his name, Qi Mu