King of Classical Music 200

As one of the most famous island nations in the world, the UK was held in the Atlantic’s clutches. The humid, salty breeze blew across the vast ocean, bringing the heat of summer to Wei Ai’s British concert. 

Just because they accepted the British royal family’s invitation didn’t mean they would play only for the British royal family. 

During the tour from the first half of the year, Wei Ai hadn’t performed in London and instead went to Manchester. So now, when the top orchestra returned to London, the city’s classical fans immediately flocked to them. Within two days, the concert tickets were sold out. 

Even the scorching heat couldn’t deter them. During Wei Ai’s summer concert, they played a passionate 《Chaldas Dance》, a warm 《Pastoral Symphony》, plus, the love of the Viennese, 《Radsky March》. The concert ended successfully with long, warm applause. 

This was the first time Qi Mu had led the orchestra during a formal performance since he became Wei Ai’s concertmaster. Without the slightest tension, this high-level concert gave the Londoners a thorough understanding of the brand-new Wei Ai. They truly understood why the young man had been described as “hope” by major newspapers and magazines. 

Only by hearing it with their own ears could they understand what bright hope it was!

Under this excellent concertmaster’s leadership, through his own vitality, he set off a wave of passion which overtook Wei Ai!

Grant, the national treasure music critic in Belgium wrote such an evaluation: “For a long time, I have always believed that Wei Ai was a traditional symphony orchestra. Their timbre was round and delicate, just like their favorite waltz, gentle and smooth, but not full of passion and ambition to pierce the sky like a storm.” 

“This is a trait formed by accumulation over hundreds of years, but it is also the prison that restricts their development. How could a world-class orchestra innovate? I think, first of all, they have to break themselves first, and a concertmaster who is still in the plastic period is precisely the hope they are longing for.” 

 《The Voice of Love and Hope Ignites London Summer Night!》

 《Let Radsky’s March Become a Resounding Success in London!》

《Wei Ai Re-Enters London, Perfectly Interpreting the World’s Top Orchestra Sound》, 《Classical Sound》, 《Music》,  《The Melody of Sound》… Even the oldest classical music magazine in the UK, “The Bell”, reported on the concert from all angles. Professional comments and major music critic reviews became a grand scene after Wei Ai’s concert. 

Rhe UK’s most well-known newspaper, “The Times”, put such a headline on its front page: 《Royal Family Invites Wei Ai to Perform, Grand Occasion is Ahead of Schedule》

……

No matter how many comments they received, this was already normal for a top-class orchestra. They didn’t have much time to delay in London, and the day after the concert ended, Wei Ai’s members took a plane and left for the other side of the ocean. 

When Qi Mu left London, the whole northern hemisphere had officially entered the heat of summer. The blue Atlantic reflected bright light across the waves. Soon, the plane touched down in Chicago.

In the next month or so Wei Ai had a total of three performances in the United States: The special Chicago Carnival Music Festival, The friendly New Anniversary concert, and the finale of the Washington Memorial Gala. 

Compared with Europe’s rich history of classical music, the United States, which had only been established for around 200 years, seemed to be a newborn. However, the development of classical music here was no worse than in its birthplace in Europe. 

On this land stood the world-famous Boston Symphony Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Top world-class orchestras called this place home, such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Even the American classical music fans’ enthusiasm was on par with Europe’s. Qi Mu had felt the strong musical atmosphere at the Chicago Music Festival. The arrival of Wei Ai made the grand festival even more lively. Thousands of Wei Ai’s fans from all over the country came to participate in their concerts. 

When Qi Mu and Wei Ai’s members finished their performances in Chicago and arrived in New York, he was shocked by an oncoming heat wave as soon as he stepped off the plane. Three days later, the fans’ enthusiasm made him even more powerless. 

With three days before the performance, the crazy and excited fans had already arrived in New York. Any music fan who truly loved classical music, even if they were normally calm and composed, would be ecstatic when they heard New Ai’s concert. They would always try their best to attend!

Founded in 1842, the New York Philharmonic orchestra had a history of nearly 200 years. Those years brought the orchestra a more stable musical style, but also a more delicate and gentle timbre. In more than 100 years, the orchestra had performed more than 14,000 times, creating the best of all orchestras. 

If the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was the pride of all Austrians, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra was the well deserved king in the hearts of all Americans. And now, these two orchestras could play together on the same stage?

God, this kind of collision between the strong and powerful is simply strange!

Unless Bai Ai and Wei Ai performed on the same stage one day, there would never be a concert in the world that could surpass the lineup of this concert. 

As soon as they arrived in New York, Wei Ai’s members checked into a pre-booked hotel under Tuckerman’s arrangement. As the evening approached, Qi Mu accompanied Dorenza, Tuckerman, and Molt, the orchestra’s second conductor, to New Ai’s headquarters to discuss some details of the concert in the future. 

Row upon row of skyscrapers, bustling streets and squats, and Qi Mu sat in the back seat of the car with an unobstructed view of the super metropolis. After arriving at the headquarters, Qi Mu humbly followed Dorenza and communicated with him with a smile. 

The four of them had just stepped into the door and hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Qi Mu saw a familiar figure leave the elevator. The bearded face was covered with an excited smile. When he came up, he gave Droenza a big hug, then greeted Tuckerman and Motl, until finally his gaze rested on the young man at their side. 

“Oh, my dear Little Seven, it seems that we haven’t seen each other since we parted in Paris.” 

Qi Mu stretched out his arms to receive the man’s warm hug. He smiled and nodded, “Yes, Mr. Hooke, it’s been more than a year.” 

Hooke was New Ai’s violin concertmaster. 

Listening to Qi Mu’s words, Hooke pretended to frown and said, “Little Seven, I’m only ten years older than you, yet you insist on calling me Mr. Hooke. Am I really so old?” As he spoke, he pouted deliberately. 

Qi Mu looked at him earnestly, wanting to say, “In fact, you are very young,” but when he saw the thick beard, even if he wanted to hold back his smile, Qi Mu couldn’t help laughing. 

Hooke’s eyes immediately widened, “When did I become so old!” 

Tuckerman immediately rounded up his Little Seven. “Well, Hooke, when are you going to trim your beard? You’d definitely look ten years younger!Oh, wait a minute, wouldn’t you be as old as Little Seven if you looked ten years younger? Well, then you should probably be one year younger.” 

Hooke, who was only 33 but was particularly mature: “…” 

After several people followed Hook to the elevator, he explained, “Mr. Boswell is still in a meeting. We scheduled the repertoire two months ago, but there’s been heavy rain in Utah and a terrible flash flood. Mr. Boswell is a Utah native and he wants to pay homage to it.” 

This summer seemed to be extraordinarily hot, but in June, the United States metropolis was like a large stove. The air was scorching and the heat was unbearable. 

Wei Ai had arrived in Chicago a week earlier, so they knew about the torrential rain. Now, hearing what Hooke said, Qi Mu remembered that Mr. Boswell was known as the “best-tempered conductor in the world”. 

Music had the magical power of conveying hope and strengthening its listeners. When anyone was in a low mood, just listening to a euphemistic waltz would help regain their confidence. When they encountered difficulties, an uplifting march would make them feel motivated again. 

Sadness was contagious, but it was more valuable to share support and encouragement. 

Dorenza nodded and whispered, “Mr. Boswell has an excellent idea. I also think it’s a good suggestion to play a song specifically for the people of Utah.” 

Hooke also agreed. “Yes, in fact, everyone in the orchestra agrees with Mr. Boswell. And, Mr. Dorenza, you know, Mr. Boswell has a good temper. He made such a gentle proposal. I don’t think anyone in the world would have the heart to oppose it.” 

It was strange to hear such words from the mouth of a bearded man, but Qi Mu replied with a deep feeling, “Yes, if Mr. Boswell put forward such a proposal. It’s hard to refuse.” 

“But it’s the difficulty of the piece that calls it into question.” 

Hearing this, Qi Mu asked curiously, “What piece did you choose?” 

Hooke paused before replying, “It’s Dvorak’s 《Symphony No. 9 in E Minor》.”