Chapter 168

On 31st December of 2016, the recruitment for Wei Ai’s deputy concertmaster officially came to a close.

Numerous reporters rushed towards Dorenza and the others that walked out of the Musikverein.

All kinds of microphones were shoved at Wei Ai’s executives, but Dorenza kept his peaceful temper and just smiled gently, “The result of today’s recruitment will have to wait until the orchestra members’ meeting confirms it. Once the personnel is finalized, I will be sure to inform you as soon as I can.”

A particularly witty journalist suddenly asked, “It’s just the confirmation, then…Mr. Dorenza, have you compiled the final candidates for the deputy concertmaster?”

Dorenza shook his head and chuckled, “I feel that every candidate is strong and it’s very difficult for me to choose. I might give you the answer by the end of tomorrow’s New Year’s concert.”

After that, Dorenza left the Musikverein under the escort of Wei Ai’s security personnels. On the other hand, Qi Mu left from another exit, avoiding the reporters with ease, wearing a white baseball cap.

With Dorenza attracting attention just by being present, even Qi Mu looked overdressed.

When Qi Mu arrived at Lance’s home, the gentle maestro had already prepared a sumptuous dinner. This made Qi Mu quite abashed, as he felt he should have returned earlier and helped prepare dinner.

Seeing the youth’s guilt, Lance smiled gently and said, “Little Seven…I don’t think we would have the time to prepare for dinner if we started now. It’s 4: 32 already, are you sure we could make it?” While saying this, Lance switched on the TV and turned up the volume.

Lance’s house was simple and decorated in a retro style. His television was an old type, the one with a big bulk on its back which should be a model from twenty or so years ago. However, he had two excellent stereo systems, Qi Mu had experienced it before. The sound was a loud roar in his ears.

After dinner, Qi Mu put the leftover food into the microwave and waited for the concert to broadcast. Right then, both of them sat in front of the TV, watching the magnificent concert hall gradually fill with people and turn from noisy to calm.

When the female host introduced the grand classical music concert to the audience in fluent German, Qi Mu started pouring a cup of black coffee for Lance. He heard the maestro say, “I sat here every year and listened to the same words by the host every year. Little Seven, when will we actually go and listen to it live?”

Qi Mu was stunned for a moment before nodding, “Okay, Mr. Lance. Let’s go to Berlin to watch the concert live next year with Teacher, all three of us together.”

The Berlin Philharmonic New Year’s concert was different from the Vienna Philharmonic’s. The former was usually held in Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall at 4:00 to 5:00 p.m on December 31st, welcoming the new year with beautiful and moving music while the latter gave a brilliant performance at the Golden Saal at 11:00 a.m, on January 1st.

Right then, Qi Mu was watching Bai Ai’s New Year’s Concert at Lance’s house.

The applause never stopped once the orchestra members stepped on the stage. When Christole also came up, a handsome man with his back straight also came up with him and bowed to the audience.

Then, the voice of the beautiful female host rang again, “Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Concert is still being lead by Mr. Auston von Bertram, the chief conductor of the orchestra along with Mr. Christole Shlott, their concertmaster. This year’s performance will be Hindemith’s 《Third Symphony》…”

Qi Mu had known that man’s track list a while ago, but now that he listened to the repertoire again, he was surprised to discover that the man who always evaded the norm would actually end the New Year’s concert with the solemn 《Pathetique Symphony》!

Qi Mu can’t help but be reminded of the fact that a year ago, this man also played the majestic 《Destiny Symphony》 to end his tour with Bai Ai on Huaxia, which was of course, “out of the norm”!

Qi Mu couldn’t refrain himself from mumbling, “Who would actually play 《Pathetique》 on New Year…”

But Master Lance shook his head and said with a smile, “Maybe Auston can conduct a completely different 《Pathetique》? Little Seven, let’s listen first.”

Qi Mu nodded gently and before long, the orchestra finished tuning their instruments.

After Min Chen and Christole looked at each other, the conductor’s baton gently rose and a fierce sound erupted. The Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall suddenly went silent and only the struggling sound of violins was heard, giving the audience goosebumps!

The first piece was Hindemith’s 《Third Symphony》 followed by Dvorak’s 《Slavonic Dances》…

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s timbre was purely blazing, like purest metal clanging, without a trace of any other noise. The tubas boomed, trumpets roared in a linger, the cellos whimpered and the violins screamed. Each sound seemed to have been divided into countless fragments and entered the audiences’ ears, flowing to their hearts.

Someone once commented on Bai Ai’s music: 『They have pure metallic timbre, the most orthodox and classic tune. No one in the world could surpass Bai Ai on the stage of symphony music, just like no one dares to deny that Beethoven was the most worthy to be king of classical music!』

The symphony music flowed one piece after another from the stereo. In the spacious living room, neither of the two made any movements, just enjoying the wonderful music together.

Until the 《Pathetique Symphony》 resounded.

When he heard a segment of the piece, Qi Mu looked at Lance in surprise. Lance also looked back at him and nodded with a smile.

Sure enough, as Lance said, since Min Chen dared to perform Tchaikovsky’s 《Pathetique Symphony》 as the closing piece, it was naturally impossible for him to perform a run-of-the-mill piece.

By the end of the sad yet hopeful 《Pathetique》, the whole Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Hall ushered in a warm applause. Before the TV, Qi Mu and Lance also clapped their hands.

Emotionally, Lance said, “It’s really a pity that I didn’t go to this year’s concert, ah! Little Seven, Auston is really a genius. I think that in the next 50 years, no one will dare to adapt 《Pathetique》.”

Qi Mu nodded with a smile. He glanced at the cold-looking man on TV, his eyes soft, “Mr. Lance, I also like this 《Pathetique》. It’s sad but not desolate, painful but not full of despair. It’s a really good piece.”

When it came to outstanding musical works, Qi Mu’s praise always came from the bottom of his heart. He would never be biased just because the conductor and composer was his lover. Therefore, when he said he liked this version of 《Pathetique》, he was really proud of Min Chen.

After the concert ended, Qi Mu helped Lance take the food out of the microwave. Slowly pouring red wine into Lance’s glass, the two continued their interrupted dinner.

At the dinner table, Lance asked Qi Mu about Bai Ai’s concert with concern, asking whether Min Chen had informed Qi Mu about anything in advance. After Qi Mu answered the questions one by one, he said, “Auston always surprises his audience and gives us plenty of expectations!”

After the two laughed and exchanged another few more words, Lance suddenly asked, “By the way, did Dorenza tell you when you’re going to go to the orchestra?”

Hearing this, Qi Mu cut the steak in his plate and it took him a while to reply. With a smile, he looked up at Lance and asked, “Mr. Lance, you…How did you know I passed the audition? Mr. Dorenza said he would not make a decision until the general assembly of the orchestra agreed.”

The white-haired old man shook his head with a smile, “I have been busy cooking delicious dinner in the afternoon and had no time to talk to Dorenza. But Little Seven, I believe in your skills. Did you…Did you fail?”

Facing the old man’s kind smile, Qi Mu didn’t conceal anything and directly told him everything that happened that afternoon. After hearing that Qi Mu had adapted Beethoven’s work, he was surprised and asked Qi Mu to play it once for him.

After listening to Qi Mu’s performance, Lance sighed and said, “Little Seven, I once told your teacher that your skills surpassed mine, but you’re slightly inferior in the emotional understanding. However, I think your third movement of Beethoven’s《D Major》 has completely surpassed me. I’m afraid even your teacher couldn’t play this piece as ardently as you do, even if he returned to his highest point.”

Qi Mu shook his head at such a high praise and said, “Mr. Lance, this is just a momentary inspiration.”

In return, Lance also shook his head, “Little Seven, inspiration is also a facet of talent, and talent is strength. I believe that Dorenza was really happy when he heard your Third Movement. No wonder he excitedly told you to report to the orchestra right after their New Year’s concert tomorrow. He’s really looking forward to your arrival.”

Qi Mu left Lance’s house with the gifts and albums the old man gave him.

It was nighttime and the moon hung dimly in the sky. The streets of Vienna were quite deserted, few people went out on New Year’s Eve, even the usually crowded subway was quite vacant, as only few seats were occupied.

When Qi Mu returned home, he felt a rare sense of loneliness.

Huaxia was seven hours ahead of Vienna, and Zheng Wei Qiao and Tan Lao had already wished him a happy new year several hours earlier. However, the apartment was so large that it made him feel he was too small and helpless.

After putting his violin in the piano room, Qi Mu didn’t leave. Instead, he sat on the stool before the piano. Pulling up the piano key cover, he pressed gently on the black and white keys. Although the sound produced didn’t turn into a melody, the Steinway’s pure and superior quality timbre made the sound beautiful.

When Qi Mu pressed the thirty-fourth note, his phone rang.

Qi Mu immediately answered it and heard a deep and magnetic voice, calling his name, “Qi Mu…”