King of Classical Music 181

The large, black piano was pushed off stage, presenting Wei Ai’s first violin group to the audience.

For any orchestra, though there was no objective difference between the instrument groups, everyone knew even if there wasn’t a second violin group, double bass, trombone, or clarinet groups…

An orchestra couldn’t exist without the first violin group!

For it was the soul of an orchestra!

The violin, known as the queen of musical instruments, was the most important of any orchestra. Alongside the piano and classical guitar, she was also amongst the world’s three major musical instruments.

Wei Ai’s first violin group originally had twenty-two members. Excluding Zayev, who had just been expelled, there should be twenty-one left. However, Grant noticed the strangely familiar face of a Chinese person amongst the twenty-two people before him!

The well-known critic considered him for a while then realized: this was Wei Ai’s new deputy concertmaster!

After another moment of consideration, he thought of something else…

Just then, could that exquisite instrument have been played by this child?

But, he remembered from an introduction in a magazine that this young man was less than 25 years old!

If Grant knew Qi Mu had only just turned 23 this year, he would be completely shocked. A 23-year-old violinist could perform at Wei Ai’s concert with no less skill than the concertmaster himself. This wasn’t a joke from God?!

Dorenza did not give Grant anymore time to think. He glanced at Anthony, smiled at the dark-haired youth next to his concertmaster,  then turned to the audience and announced, “Next is— 《Explosions Polka》!”

A roar of applause burst from the audience. Once it had ceased, Dorenza raised his baton, looked at the last drummer on the outskirts of the orchestra, and then—

“Bang!!!”

Explosive drumming ignited 《Explosions Polka》!

On the radiant stage, this orchestra at the top of the world played briskly. The flute leisurely floated in the air, the French horn rattled, the clarinet chimed, and the drums’s rumbling continued to increase the explosive rhythm.

Its intensity was frightening but it was impossible for anyone to feel anxious.

Because the violin’s warmth filled the air and touched the audience’s ears with joy and  delight. They couldn’t help but smile with how happy they were!

Strauss and his son had incomparable talent when it came to the waltz. It was never incorrect to assign the title “Kings of Waltz” to their name.

《Explosions Polka》, like Johann Strauss’s other waltzes, was light and airy, like elven spirits had danced into the Golden Concert Hall.

Waltz was a style of music that made people smile.

When a waltz began to play, no beautiful lady or handsome man could hesitate to take up a partner. No one would refuse to dance!

Waltz had such magical charm, Austrians had been addicted to it for hundreds of years.

Everyone in the theater wore soft expressions, fully immersed in the melody, but the master critic in the first row was an exception.

Grant was in his sixties and as a national treasure music critic in Belgium, he only wrote reviews on the world’s top orchestras such as Bai Ai, Wei Ai, and New Ai. However, it had become increasingly difficult for him to find things to describe and convey things that he had not already said countless times over the past sixty years.

In fact, when Grant entered the La Monnaie De Munt theatre today, he hadn’t expected much. He had simply accepted Wei Ai’s invitation to sit in the first row with an attitude of “let’s just go listen to the first show of Wei Ai’s tour this year.”

Wei Ai had made considerable progress over the years, but compared with Bai Ai’s vigor, it seemed almost cliche. Grant had attended Wei Ai’s New Year Concert and he had to admit that the orchestra hadn’t suffered any losses due to Leon Zayev’s absence. Rather, they actually moved forward, but…

That didn’t mean Wei Ai deserved another review from him for another three years.

Until this concert.

One person’s difference might seem small, but that didn’t mean one great musician couldn’t change an orchestra! The first time Auston Bertram conducted Bai Ai created a whole new Bai Ai… This performance made him believe that one person’s sound could change an entire orchestra, or even the whole world!

For some reason, such a sentence suddenly appeared in Grant’s mind.

It was something he wrote in his critique of Bai Ai’s concert eleven years ago.

Now, as he listened to Wei Ai, he seemed to see in this young, handsome deputy concertmaster the same young, handsome second conductor of Bai Ai eleven years ago who was now Bai Ai’s primary conductor— Min Chen!

As a national level critic, Grant naturally had an impeccable ear and a sense for sound that most people could never hope to match.

He could clearly hear that young man’s violin was like that of the rivers flowing down from high mountains into a quiet valley. It wasn’t lonely, though. Alongside it, birds chirped and flowers bloomed, making 《Explosions Polka》all the more lively and joyful!

This young man’s technique was also superb. His vibrato was already refined to the extent of a single finger’s tremor, and his bow jumping was impeccably precise! Grant had no doubt this young man could play a wonderful Paganini… for this performance was breathtaking!

Thus, a passage appeared in the evaluation of Wei Ai’s concert written by this harsh music critic. In that eloquent review, he described Wei Ai’s entire concert with a new kind of atmosphere, which he called—

Hope.

In the extra time, Wei Ai performed 《Explosions Polka》 and《Hungarian March》 by Berlioz. These two passionate pieces did not extinguish the audience’s enthusiasm, and on the contrary, made the applause last for over ten minutes.

Onstage, Qi Mu bowed with the orchestra in thanks. His expression was composed and unperturbed. There was no change in his handsome face, but if one observed closely, they would find the fingers holding his bow trembling a little.

Sweat seeped from the palm of his hand. Though it was early spring and the night was not very warm, yet Qi Mu’s hands were sweating. It’s not that he wasn’t nervous, but that he was used to dealing with all things with a sober mentality and refused to be defeated by such emotions.

Under the warm applause, Wei Ai exited the stage in an orderly fashion.

Qi Mu had just arrived backstage and hadn’t found a place to stand when he was suddenly pulled into a hug. An excited voice said next to his ear, “Oh, Little Seven! How wonderful! DId you hear that? The applause hasn’t ended yet!”

“Little Seven! I didn’t expect you to perform so well! Is this really your first time working with a large orchestra?”

“I was so scared I almost fainted when I accidentally got off beat! Thanks for bringing me back, Little Seven!”

……

These guys, only moments ago acting like perfect little gentlemen and ladies on stage, immediately “showed their true colors” and clamored around their deputy concertmaster, encouraging and congratulating each other. Anthony eventually came over to scold them and they dispersed.

Qi Mu was finally liberated.

He carefully placed his violin in its case but Anthony began to speak before he could set the bow into place, “Little Seven, I heard Carl was off beat in 《Waldstein》 just now. Did you correct him?”

Qi Mu smiled and nodded. “Yes. Carl slowed down half a beat in the fifth section. It wasn’t a big deal. I was worried he was a bit nervous, so I pulled him back.”

He said it lightly, as if it were something insignificant, but Anthony knew how difficult it was to coax a musician on stage and ease him back into the ensemble so quickly!

His satisfied and admiring eyes stayed on the youth’s face for quite some time. “Little Seven, you’re so modest I don’t know how to commend you. How shall I reward you?”

This was Qi Mu’s first time hearing someone ask him “How can I reward you?” to his face. He thought it over carefully and asked, “… Could you let me listen to your record of Master Karajan’s cooperation with Wei Ai from a century ago?”

“No way! That shouldn’t even need to be said!”

Qi Mu: “…” You asked what I wanted!

At his helpless expression, Anthony could see his lovely little grandson, who was also handsome… well, he was obviously not as beautiful as Little Seven, of course, but he was cute all the same!

He thought for a while and smiled, “By the way, Little Seven, did you know there’s a custom in Wei Ai…”

Qi Mu was taken aback by the subject change and shook his head, “I didn’t.”

He had never had the opportunity to perform with this orchestra in his previous life. As it was his first time in either life, he didn’t know there was any such strange rule.

Anthony smiled and said, “Little Seven, you’ve entered the orchestra and played with us for the first time. Of course, there must be a commemoration…” His voice heightened and he said to the other members, “Hey, everyone, when do you say Little Seven should perform tonight?!”

After his voice fell, the entire backstage exploded!

“God! I forgot it was Little Seven’s first time performing with us in public?! He has to perform!”

“That’s right, let Little Seven perform quickly!”

“Hahaha, I don’t know if Little Seven can perform so soon! Wouldn’t that set a new record for us?!”

…

The more he listened, the more Qi Mu felt he had heard those words before?

Anthony turned to look at him and joked, “Little Seven, we’re not bullying you. Every member of the Wei Ai has to perform 《Perpetual Motion》 after their first performance. If you can finish it in 3 minutes and 33 seconds, no problem. But if you exceed that time…”

“Little Seven! I want your autograph. My niece loves you!”

“Hey, don’t steal my line. I don’t even want Little Seven’s signature. I want a hug! Damn it, I didn’t even get to hug Little Seven just now.”

“Hey, hey, hey, Dora, your sons are both older than Little Seven. Why do you, an older woman, want to eat Little Seven’s tofu?”

“Can’t I? I just think Little Seven’s cute, what about it?!”

…

Qi Mu listened to them chatter on and Anthony smiled, “Three minutes and 33 seconds isn’t all that much trouble for you, Little Seven. I heard when Christole entered Bai Ai, he played this song during the interview. They’ve been tormented by his performance all these years. If no one can break his record, won’t Wei Ai always be lesser than their Bai Ai?”

Although he said that, Anthony didn’t have much sympathy in his voice. He was already thinking of what he wanted to ask of his deputy concertmaster.

Once the performance exceeded the time frame, he would have to agree to a request from all the members present. Of course, it had to be something immediately achievable and it couldn’t deliberately embarrass him.

Under the dazzling light, the young man’s handsome face looked divine. It was impossible for anyone to look away. The background noise gradually faded. Qi Mu laughed, “Three minutes and thirty-three seconds?”

Anthony felt it was too much to embarrass such a lovely child. “Or… 3 minutes and 35 seconds?”

“No, if we’re going to break Christole’s record, we won’t change the time.” Wei Ai stared in a daze as Qi Mu said calmly, “Alright… 3 minutes and 33 seconds.”