King of Classical Music 189

Once the piano was removed, only the members of Wei Ai were left on the dazzling, golden stage. The world’s top symphony orchestra was now ready. They would perform exquisite music at the command of their concertmaster. 

The audience under the stage were getting used to this rhythm of “people walking off the stage”. They looked forward to the music the young man onstage would bring them next.

Would it be as difficult, cheerful, and intense as the 《Spanish Clog Dance》, or would it be a highly difficult, technical piece that would conquer everything visually?

In fact, at that time, many members of the audience recognized Qi Mu as a violinist with “exquisite technical skill and supreme performance ability.” Especially when many of them knew that Akkad taught Qi Mu, they regarded him as the next “Modern Paganini”. 

But, when slow, painful music sounded, everyone was surprised. Even those familiar with the song whispered, “《Schindler’s List》?!”

The cello sighed in a deep voice, each sound euphemistic and sad. The bass whispered, as if weeping. With such sad music, the audience returned to an era of war and darkness. 

Thick, dark clouds of repression enveloped all of Europe with fighting, death, weapons, and blood… 

The children’s blond hair was dyed red, the bride’s wedding dress fell in a pool of blood, and thousands of innocent people were driven into concentration camps, never to return. There was no hope, only endless despair. 

Just then! The violin struck!

Like a beautiful woman singing sadly for the European land. The darkness ended, but heavy clouds still hung over everyone’s heads. 

The violin softened with sorrow. The young man’s slender fingers pressed against the strings, adding a clear tone to the vibrato. 

Behind him, the symphony orchestra echoed solemnly, while the violin, as the main melody, sang of hope. It dispersed the sadness with its soft cry. 

《Schnidler’s List》 was from the brilliant soundtrack of the film of the same name. The piece appeared at the end of the composition. The war ended, but those who died would never return. On land soaked with blood, countless Jews walked to tombstones one by one with flowers in hand, sending their wishes to those who could never be named. 

Those fortunate enough to be on Schindler’s list were happy. But, more were the innocent people who died forever under the land. Maybe they were eating sweet bread with their children, maybe while they whispered with their lovers, the world collapsed when soldiers rushed into their homes. 

If the symphony orchestra’s performance cast endless sadness over the audience, then the violin’s colorful solo was its complete opposite. 

After a rainstorm, there would always be light. 

The low, lingering violin echoed throughout the concert hall. The emotional audience had eyes full of tears. Among them, Lance’s brow furrowed as his hands clenched into fists. 

《Schnidler’s List》…

Qi Mu actually chose such a song!

《Schnidler’s List》was not a difficult piece, even most amateurs could perform it beautifully. But, there were so many violinists in the world that could play the piece so fluently, that there were few that could drive the audience to tears!

Even Lance was moved by the strong, dull sadness in the violin’s sound, and its hope of breaking out of the darkness. 

When the piece was released, Lance seldom went out to perform it. However, seldom didn’t mean he never played it again. This song was the final encore he performed in Washington. 

Only those who performed it knew how difficult it was to make the song a successful encore. It was wonderful if it could be done, and tragic if it couldn’t. Now, Lance smiled slightly, thinking in his heart: You did it, Little Seven. 

Let the audience immerse themselves in your music, their eyes will overflow with tears. 

You did it. 

At the end of the last mournful treble, the audience remained silent until Anthony stood, applauded, and shouted, “Bravo!” 

In an instant, deafening applause overturned the whole concert hall!

One piece was the 《Spanish Clog Dance》, with its difficult performance level, and the other was 《Schindler’s List》, with its rich emotion. This young man possessed incredible skill and superb emotional understanding of music. If they didn’t applaud such an exceptional violinist, who could they applaud?!

At the time, no one would raise any doubt about Wei Ai’s new concertmaster. His ability was the strongest weapon to quell any rumors. If such a person couldn’t become the concertmaster of Wei Ai, how many people in the world could?

Under the stage, Wei Ai’s fans applauded, sending their heartfelt blessings to their favorite orchestra. They could see a bright future for the orchestra and rested assured knowing that even better performances would come. 

Music critics, musicians, and journalists all started getting busy. 

The music critic’s thoughts were filled with countless music reviews. From the first 《Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major》 to the last two encores, each piece was exquisite, nearly reaching the peak of music.

The journalists were even busier. Wei Ai changed its concertmaster? Big deal! Big deal! It was best to publish it in the newspaper the next day. No, no, no, they had to release the information publicly that night and print it in the morning! And, after that, there must be many music critics who would want to write reviews on the last two encores, um… They had to contact the music critics and send for a long report immediately!

Qi Mu naturally didn’t know what the audience thought at the time. At the end of《Schindler’s List》, he sighed, hiding his grief, and looked at Dorenza. 

Doenza stepped off the podium and gave Qi Mu a hug. In the roaring applause under the stage, they led the orchestra to bow together. So far, there was no need to say even one more word. What should have been expressed had been, and the rest depended on everyone’s imagination. 

After the mess of, “Don’t say anything, let’s leave, you are free,” the members of Wei Ai withdrew orderly and returned to their own rehearsal hall. 

Members of the orchestra came forward to embrace Qi Mu one by one excitedly, wishing the tour a complete success while they celebrated the young man officially becoming their concertmaster. 

“Little Seven, that 《Spanish Clog Dance》was incredible! If I hadn’t sat on the stage and performed, I would’ve gone down to dance as soon as I could!” 

“That’s right, you still had a section to play. I didn’t have to do anything. I just sat there and listened to you! It was so frustrating!” 

“《Schindler’s List》was really fantastic. I’ve heard Lance collaborated on that piece with New Ai before. Um… It was excellent, but it was a very different style to Little Seven.” 

Hearing this, Qi Mu smiled helplessly, “Master Lance has more experience than me, I can’t compare with him.” 

“But, Little Seven, your music is free in a way that mine isn’t.” 

The voice reverberated from behind Qi Mu. He turned in surprise and saw that Lance had entered the rehearsal hall. He said, “Your violin sounds more like a resurrection from death. It seems you have experienced the heaviest darkness and ushered in a new light. Well… What I said seems mysterious, it is probably more than what I intend to say. Such feelings are those I don’t have, and what 《Schindler’s List》intends to express. You know it better than I do.” 

Listening to Lance’s evaluation, Qi Mu said, “Mr. Lance, you understood.” 

“I just love to tell the truth, right, Dorenza?”

Having been brought to the center of attention, Dorenza innocently spread his hands. “Yes, yes, you’re both excellent, you’re both excellent.” 

They all laughed together. 

Qi Mu lifted his violin and wiped away the rosen that fell on the violin due to friction. His movements were gentle and meticulous as he listened to the members of Wei Ai discuss how to celebrate the end of their tour. 

In fact, what Lance said was right. Experiencing death and life in a new light, this was exactly what Qi Mu had been through. 

No one dared to believe that he had died before. Naturally, he understood the extreme despair. So, in other pieces, Qi Mu may not have been able to achieve Lance’s profound emotion, but he could easily comprehend the sadness of 《Schindler’s List》. It perfectly matched his mood. 

However, like the music expressed, there was light after darkness. Qi Mu understood, he felt happy. All he wanted was to go back early, make a long-distance phone call with a certain man, and finally have a good rest.

As for the upcoming controversy of public opinion concerning Wei Ai’s new concertmaster?

Well, he’d save those concerns for tomorrow. 

After everyone said goodnight, under Dorenza’s proposal, they agreed to celebrate the success of the tour the next day, along with Little Seven becoming the new concertmaster. 

After parting at the intersection, Qi Mu and Julie took the subway back to the apartment together. He agreed with the beautiful, generous woman to continue morning exercise the next day then went upstairs and entered his home. While changing out of his shoes, he reached out to turn on the light. 

As soon as his finger touched the switch, light spread over the room in an instant. 

Qi Mu lowered his head and put his leather boots into the shoe cabinet. When he looked up again, Qi Mu’s mind slowed and his eyes widened at the scene in the living room. 

On the French window opposite the solid wooden door, thousands of red roses were carefully glued to the glass, bright and delicate, forming a string of words. “Brilliant performance, my dear little concertmaster.”