Of all the music institutes in Europe, the world even, the Paris\u2019 National Conservatory of Music was one of the best. Their terms usually lasted for 4 to 5 years. Each semester, two in-house assessments were conducted to inspect both the syllabus implemented by the teachers and the progress of the students. Students who failed multiple times would face the difficult choice of either repeating the semester or dropping out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu mentioned this assessment when taking his new assignment from Akkad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, he knew that the Conservatory held these assessments four times a year. Most orchestras believed it was also a good opportunity to recruit talent. Qi Mu had also accompanied Jacques to Paris in his previous life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Little Seven, you enrolled during the middle of the semester. Now, you have to participate in the assessment after only two weeks.” Akkad gave him the score and added, “I don\u2019t want to keep you here in Paris with me for too long. The right way to do this is for you to graduate early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akkad knew that Qi Mu had worked with several orchestras before, including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Cooperation, however, did not imply being a full member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The classical music industry in Huaxia was still peaceful and flourishing, while Europe\u2019s had long been complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qi Mu gazed at the score in his hand then looked up and smiled, “I know. I will work hard.” After a pause, he inquired, “Right, teacher, I don’t know. . . if you want me to choose the performance track for the assessment myself.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPaganini\u2019s \u300aLa Campanella\u300b.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This answer left Qi Mu in a daze. He asked, \u201cProfessor Akkad, I thought. . . You would let me choose \u300aNo. 24\u300b or \u300aCarmen Fantasia\u300b.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Akkad gave Qi Mu the score of Sarasate\u2019s \u300aCarmen Fantasia\u300b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u300aCarmen<\/a>\u300b was an opera piece written by the French composer Georges Bizet<\/a> for the novel \u300aCarmen<\/a>\u300b. The subsequent composers, German-American Franz Waxman<\/a> and Spain’s Sarasate<\/a>, used the opera as the inspiration to write their own piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bizet\u2019s \u300aCarmen\u300b paid more attention to singing, making it the most widely spread version, and it was very popular with the audiences. Waxman and Sarasate’s \u300aCarmen\u300b was focused on violin skills. Although it had a smaller audience, it was regarded as a classic in fantasy violin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad raised his thick eyebrow. \u201cDo you think. . . your \u300aLa Campanella\u300b will be worse than these two?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu smiled and shook his head. He confidently replied, “No, I believe my \u300aLa Campanella\u300b will definitely not be worse.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u300aLa Campanella\u300b was one of Qi Mu\u2019s specialties. During last year\u2019s Christmas Eve, he played this song in front of Min Chen. Though he hadn’t practiced it recently, Qi Mu believed he would never grow rusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad nodded and said, “Not bad, then we will practice Sarasate’s \u300aCarmen\u300b this week and another song next week.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu was stunned. He asked, “. . .Professor, don\u2019t you want to set aside some time before the assessment to let me practice \u300aLa Campanella\u300b?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad frowned. He feigned anger and said, “Little Seven, do you still need to be like that silly Dylan next door? He made his mentor leave a week to practice for his assessment!” His righteous gesture and matter-of-fact-tone made it seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu nodded helplessly. “Yes, Professor. Let\u2019s continue with our own syllabus, don’t let the assessment disrupt our progress.” In the whole school. . . only he would still teach as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Akkad smiled. “Okay, familiarize yourself with the song.” Satisfied with Qi Mu\u2019s hard-working attitude, Akkad finally relaxed. He added, ” Sarasate\u2019s \u300aCarmen\u300b is a bit difficult. Little Seven, practice well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qi Mu smiled and replied, “Okay, Professor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bit difficult. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n More like, very difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n