King of Classical Music 98

Dresden was one of Germany’s best-known tourist cities. Its music center, Semperoper, was would-famous. The solemn, sacred-looking opera house, the Zwinger Palace, and Dresden Frauenkirche were called Dresden’s “three tourist magnets.”

Qi Mu played an adapted version of the opera 《Des Knaben Wunderhorn》 at his audition for the New York Philharmonic’s Orchestra’s competition in Hong Kong last year. At the time, he also admitted that he rarely listened to opera and knew very little about them.

Therefore, when the opera troupe first joined the rehearsals, Qi Mu couldn’t adjust right away. It took a few rehearsals together before he got used to it.

During the two weeks of intense rehearsal, Qi Mu experienced first-hand exactly how a three-hour opera came into being. This included the stage prop production, the opera singers’ positions, and even the detailed lighting arrangement.

There was no such complicated process for a symphony concert. Qi Mu only needed to rehearse carefully and perform flawlessly in the concert to have a successful ending.

But opera wasn’t that simple. After he went home with Farrell, Qi Mu would borrow the man’s books to study every day.

In this regard, Audrey felt it was a bit incomprehensible. She often made snacks for the young man who stayed up late in the study and once asked him, “Angel, since you don’t intend to make a career in opera, then why. . . read all these books? These are all opera symphonies.”

Her words made Qi Mu lift his gaze from the book packed with German words. He looked up and smiled at the kind lady. He answered,  “Mrs. Audrey, we Chinese have an old saying that says it’s never too late to learn. There’s still a lot I don’t know, so I hope to enrich myself as much as I can.”

When the appreciation in Mrs. Audrey’s gaze grew, Qi Mu blinked and asked, “And. . . Do you think I will ever have the opportunity to see such precious materials as in this study in the future? There are so many treasures here that I just want to steal them all away.”

“Oh! Angel, you’re welcome to visit anytime. You’re such a sweet and lovely child!”

Such an answer clearly pleased Audrey and, to Farrell, Qi Mu gave another reason for reading those books, “Mr. Farrell, Min Chen gave me a relatively novel idea to adapt opera pieces to symphony last year.”

When talking about this, Qi Mu couldn’t help but smile, “However, though he had experimented with this, it seemed as if he had never put it into practice, so. . . I wanted to collect more information and try to iron out the kinks.”

Farrell’s interest was also piqued by this. “Oh? I’ve heard of this, but I didn’t realize Auston hadn’t given up yet. Angel, I support your decision.”

Qi Mu smiled, “Then, Mr. Farrell. . . can you explain something to me?” Qi Mu pushed the book in his hands toward Farrell.

The two had a little Q&A in the quiet study for the next hour or so.  Pen in hand, Qi Mu constantly jotted down notes. 

When all of his inquiries were answered more or less, Farrell took a look at his beautiful handwriting and said, “Angel, I already thought it was amazing you speak German so fluently, but I never expected. . . you could also write it so beautifully!”

Qi Mu closed his book and replied, “Mr. Farrell, I enrolled in German classes while I was in Paris. Because my foundation in Latin is good, I learned quickly.”

Farrell nodded gently but, after a while, he couldn’t help but say, “But Angel, your handwriting is really beautiful! You see, I’m never good at calligraphy. Fortunately, I only need to draw tadpoles when composing, so I don’t need to pay much attention to my writing. Otherwise, I’d be upset.” After a pause, Farrell suddenly thought, “Oh, yeah. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen Auston’s handwriting. That fellow’s handwriting is so beautiful, I don’t know how he manages it.”

It wasn’t the first time he heard that name today, so Qi Mu only smiled and didn’t say a word.

Since he inadvertently answered Min Chen’s phone call that day, Qi Mu once again ignored the man for over a week. The sentence “liebe dich” was like a thorn pierced deep in his heart, making it impossible for Qi Mu to ignore it.

. . . That man actually dared to trick him?!

Then he would just not answer the phone and cut the evil right from the source.

Qi Mu didn’t know while he was leisurely and happily enjoying his time in peace as if isolated from the world, over here, the members of Bai Ai spent the days in fear. They began to regret how they foolishly entered Bai Ai with tears in their eyes.

They swear!

They really didn’t spread the rumor the conductor was getting married next month!

How could they say such an abominable thing?!

It was a rumor, like the rumors that said they asked their friends to vote for their conductor for “the conductor with the worst temper” poll. It really was just a rumor!

But Little Angel. . . when can you give our conductor a call? We’re freezing to death here, ah!

Didn’t you say you’ll call him everyday?! Angel, you little liar!

Of course, God is always fair. Qi Mu bowed to collect his pen and notebook, but before he could pick them up, suddenly, he heard Farrell let out a single “oh,” appearing to have thought of something while staring at him in surprise.

The grey-haired maestro grinned, showing his white teeth, “Yeah, Angel, you haven’t seen Auston for a while, have you? He asked for a ticket to tomorrow’s performance the other day. You can talk to him tomorrow night, ah.”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

Precisely what did I owe you in my past life, Mis! Ter! Far! Rell!

Dresden, 7 p.m.

The summer turned Europe into a frying pan. Even with the cold sea breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, it still couldn’t reach Dresden that was inland.

With Dresden being a warm and quiet city, the streets usually slowed down, preparing for a beautiful night. But this evening, the square in front of the Semperoper Opera House was crowded.

Opera enthusiasts from major cities in Germany and even from other countries were gathered here tonight to listen to what might be the biggest opera evening event of the summer. The lead singers were outstanding members of the German National Opera, and the orchestra was the Dresden Symphony——the oldest symphony in the world!

Their chief conductor, Farrell was an experienced romantic musician whose name alone was enough to entice music enthusiasts. 

As it happened, tonight’s concert was in July when most orchestras were on vacation. So many people were pleasantly surprised to find the chief conductor and music director of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, the concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, and the saxophone maestro from Spain in the audience. . .

And when some of the audience went to the front row, They saw the man sitting on the left side of the third row, and a few directly whispered——

“Isn’t that Mr. Auston Bertram?!”

If the man who sat with a cold face was not Min Chen, then who else would it be?

Min Chen was probably the first to enter the hall. Intending to block someone and talk with them before the show started, he rushed from Berlin to Dresden at noon.

To his surprise, after he drove all the way from Berlin and finally stood backstage, Jenny regretfully informed him, “Oh, Mr. Bertram. . . Angel and Mr. Farrell said they would be here before the performance, but they’re not here right now.”

Min Chen: “. . .”

Jenny then sighed, “I guess Angel has something to do this afternoon, but Mr. Bertram, his violin really is wonderful. So you don’t have to worry about his performance tonight, it definitely isn’t inferior to mine.”

Min Chen’s lips pursed weakly for a while before whispering, “Thank you, Jenny. I believe in him. Thank you for taking care of Qi Mu during his time here.”

After saying a few more words, Min Chen went alone to the auditorium and sat down.

Jenny, on the other hand, covered her cheeks and said excitedly, “Didn’t Angel know that Mr. Bertram would be here?! He must be very excited to see Mr. Bertram! Ah! Ah! I never expected Mr. Bertram would come to our show tonight, Oh, God…”

The members of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra sighed when they saw their fangirling concertmaster who almost couldn’t control herself, and collectively thought: Mike (Jenny’s husband) is so sad. . .

As for Qi Mu’s current whereabouts?

Min Chen guessed the young man learned of him attending the concert from Farrell and was deliberately hiding. But this time he guessed wrong. Qi Mu really wanted to avoid him, but before he could, he received a call from across the ocean.

Qi Mu smiled while packing up his things, “Yes, Zheng-Ge. I’m performing 《The Magic Flute》 with the Dresden Symphony Orchestra tonight. . . Yes, I’ll work hard, you don’t have to worry. Mr. Farrell takes good care of me as well. . . Oh, it’s already early in the morning there. You have to take care of sister-in-law as she’s pregnant right now so you should rest early. . .”

Qi Mu’s conversation with Zheng Wei Qiao lasted for nearly half an hour in this manner of Qi Mu obediently assuring him with, “I won’t sleep so late” and “I would never stay up to study opera symphony” until Zheng Wei Qiao was satisfied and hung up the phone.

This so-called “hanging up” had its own way of separating people.

You see. . . The great Mister Auston Bertram called him six times every day yet was hung-up on again and again while he sometimes had phone calls with Zheng Wei Qiao that lasted for half an hour every day.

You say. . . the difference between the two. . .

Why was it so large?