King of Classical Music

Perhaps it was due to New Ai’s popularity or Min Chen’s, but the audience for the event went above and beyond the original estimation. There were too many people.

But, it was a concert for the Sea Music Festival, after all, so it wasn’t as serious or as formal as usual. The organizers had removed all the sears on the second floor so the audience could. . . stand while they listened.

Although most of the audience currently did not know Qi Mu, they knew the name “Min Chen.”

Min Chen was only thirty years old, but he was the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s conductor, and he had created dozens of outstanding musical pieces in the past decade. They were praised all over the world. For such a master, there was hardly anyone that could compare to his position in classical music today.

Even the other three maestros that made up the world’s four great conductors were a touch inferior to Bai Ai’s conductor.

Of course, it was never about who was inferior or superior in music, but these maestros freely admitted that Min Chen was above their level, so there was no need for his fans to be modest.

And, such a person defended a newcomer in such a grand fashion! Even though now they knew Qi Mu wasn’t a newcomer, it did not prevent the fans from having thoughts like: “Even Min Chen appreciates him, this newcomer seems good!”

Therefore, a large part of the audience today had some form of anticipation to see. . . just how skilled Qi Mu really was.

Among those who had come to listen today, while many did not know who Qi Mu was before the New Ai’s recruitment audition, there was a young woman with her hair in a ponytail and her face flushed with excitement. She was so excited her hands were clenched into fists. She looked forward to the performance with a single-minded focus.

Li Yue Yue originally came to Hong Kong on a business trip. For a white-collar worker like her, this was quite common. However, she never imagined that just the day before she was set to leave the port city, she would learn about the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s ensemble at the Sea Music Festival!!!

Although she was currently working a job that had nothing to do with music, in fact, Li Yue Yue had studied violin in elementary school for a few years. Since she had accidentally bought 《Sound of Music》 because of the photo on the cover, she never expected to be so lucky as to see him in person!

In classical music terms, she was just a layman. However, she was able to appreciate music that was harmonious and gorgeous much better than those “” fans.

Since she had bought 《Sound of Music》, Li Yue Yue had bought all the albums that related to Qi Mu and imported them to her phone so she could listen to them every day. She even asked her mother to send her violin to B City. She would practice it after returning home from work in the evenings.

The things that had charm, maybe it was forced upon you as a child by a parent, and it was constant suffering, but once you had matured, its true beauty would be discovered!

When she learned that Qi Mu would perform in Hong Kong this weekend, even if it was just a single piece, Li Yue Yue did not hesitate to ask her boss for a three-to-four day holiday. She had to listen to this song before she could leave!

She listened to these exchanges around her: “To rely on relationships to get somewhere, that Qi Mu,” and “Yes, so young yet the assistant conductor for the B City Symphony. . . he certainly has problems.” It made Li Yue Yue scornful!

Qi Mu’s strengths, she naturally had no doubts!

And, she believed that these people would thoroughly understand just how stupid the things they had just said were in the end!

In this splendid concert hall, even if the entire second floor was full, no one made a sound.

When the signal that indicated the official start of the concert was broadcast, the musicians of the color music group were seated first. Then the percussion group took their seats, and the brass instruments followed them. Finally, the string instrument group walked in from both sides of the stage and took their positions.

Once everyone was seated, Allan Boswell entered from the left side wearing a light grey suit and a smile. Suddenly, the audience burst into applause and sent their most respectful greetings to this famous conductor.

After Boswell and the staff had their exchange, he raised his hand gently. He brought it down again, and music flowed like a stream at his command.

New Ai’s repertoire was the best of their famous symphonies. For example, Dvorak’s 《New World》, Berlioz’s 《Symphonie Fantastique》, Beethoven’s 《Fifth Symphony》and his 《Eighth Symphony》.

Once these familiar songs appeared, the audience became enamored with the sound and completely forgot their anticipatory “looking at the new person” type of mood.

One song after the other intoxicated the audience. Even Li Yue Yue entered a state of pure appreciation. When 《Symphonie Fantastique》 ended, Li Yue Yue wore an expression of satisfaction. Then a sharp eye suddenly noticed a young man entering from the backstage.

Everyone in the concert hall saw the handsome youth enter from the left side carrying a yellow violin. He wore a black suit, like the New York members, but he had a white tie. This white color lined the young man’s beautiful face and made it even better, letting everyone in the audience state blankly.

After a moment, they suddenly realized that was. . . Qi Mu!

Someone once commented on the temperaments and appearances of several famous musicians in a western magazine forum. At first, everyone was inclined toward people that played the piano. But temperament was generally not much worse. Until someone nominated the concertmaster of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. . .

All in all, although the classical music industry was not like the entertainment circle where there were beautiful people everywhere, most people in classical music had a restrained temperament, and it made people more comfortable. It could be said that they had a few, though not many, good looking people, but now. . . now they would be renowned for one.

By the end of the handshake between Boswell and Qi Mu, some viewers had still not returned to their senses. After a while, a child whispered, “Really good looking, ah, I don’t know. . . how good is his violin? This won’t be an embroidered pillow, right?”

Li Yue Yue couldn’t even hear these people’s voices at the moment. She only saw the young man politely boy on the stage. After he had straightened up again, Qi Mu naturally placed his bow against the strings of his violin.

Qi Mu then lifted his chin and turned to look at Boswell, waiting for his command.

The next moment, the clarinet sounded first, and the atmosphere was restless and depressed. This gentle music continued, and that anticipated moment grew closer until, finally, Qi Mu narrowed his eyes and suddenly. . .

Pulled the bow across his violin!

As a specially invited violinist, Qi Mu did not sit in the original seat for the concertmaster. Instead, he stood directly to Boswell’s left and gave his own performance.

Sibelius’ 《First Symphony in E Minor》 was divided into four movements. Two were slightly different andantes, one was a brief scherzo allegro, and the final piece was similar to a ling in Fantasia. The piece was brisk. The violin was its main theme, and its rhythm controlled the entire piece.

The young man’s left hand danced across the strings, and the dazzling light from above illuminated him, turning those white fingers almost transparent.

Li Yue Yue held her breath. While listening, while watching, she felt her soul fly from her chest. Her mind was filled with only the increasingly passionate sound.

The pace grew faster and faster. The music became more and more enthusiastic. And in the end, she saw that young man standing at the front of the orchestra suddenly draw his bow. The music that was so jarring lagged for a moment at its highest peak——

But it did not stop. . . no, it went even higher!

This was not Li Yue Yue’s first concert, but. . . it was the most memorable.

She sat in the middle of the first floor, her eyes wide as she stared at that handsome youth.

At times, Qi Mu would frown, and the music would gradually deepen along with that dignified expression. Other times, his lips would slowly curl upward, and he would exchange smiles with the conductor.

When the song reached the last 13-minute andante, the music that had accumulated for such a long time became rich. This majestic music and its intense sound, the audience could only surrender to the song’s momentum. At the very end, the violin burst to the height of its peak, and some people helplessly clenched their hands into fists while others couldn’t help but flush with excitement.

That last note finally fell.

The song was done.

The whole piece was forty minutes long, but no one thought it took too long!

Such magnificent music echoed in the audience’s ears. After a few minutes, someone shouted “Bravo!” as if they had just awakened. Applause rang through the concert hall after that, almost loud enough to raise the roof.

On stage, Qi Mu raised a beautiful hand and wiped away the sweat on his forehead.

He stared blankly out at the audience that had stood and was applauding below. The fingers holding his bow gradually tightened, and an inexplicable excitement swelled in his chest. December 18, 2015, this was Qi Mu’s first performance as concertmaster on the international level.

At the Sea Music Festival in Hong Kong.

Translator(s): Bet, Kuro

Editor(s): Bet

Notes

From your editor:

Hello everyone! Bet here. I wanted to give a shout to everyone that Betwixted Translations will be moving! We are moving to our own hosted server, however, the transition is very complicated. (If I had known beforehand, I would have started on wordpress instead of blogger, but what can one do about the past?) I will be spending the rest of this week and the weekend reorganizing things.

Hopefully, by next Monday, Betwixted Butterfly will be hosted independently. Please bear with me as I have to recreate each page one at a time. I don't intend to interrupt your update schedule, so look forward to Friday's update!

Also, Kuro's experiencing a bit of a hectic time with job interviews and life in general. So everyone will have to make do with my work this time. Please be gentle (>///w///<)

Thank you so much for your continued support!