King of Classical Music Chapter 120

Under the spotlight, a handso young man strode onto the stage. He wore an impeccable dress suit, paired with a deep red tie.

The clothes he wore seed to be no different from the other mbers' behind him—— It was the orchestra's uniform, after all. But, the audience was shocked when they saw him.

Was he the concertmaster?!

Before they could think more, Kawaguchi moved onto the stage. Hugging the young man tightly, he confird their suspicions. "He's really the concertmaster?!"

Seeing the na "Qi Mu" on the brochure, several of them already recognized him. The Paris' National Conservatory of Music was the top music institution in France. Being able to get high scores in two assessnts consecutively, even those with a slight preference for classical music would know his na.

Moreover, Leonid had written a review on him. It was full of praise, making him famous.

But, it was just his na that was famous. When the audience saw him for the first ti, they were impressed that such a talented violinist… not only was he young but also very beautiful!

They looked forward to the performance even more.

Onstage, after Qi Mu and the orchestra mbers bowed to the audience, he sat at the concertmaster's position and looked at Kawaguchi on the podium. They had worked together several tis, so they could understand each other with just a look.

The next second, Kawaguchi raised his baton, and the sound of the string instrunts imdiately chid.

Tchaikovsky's 《Violin Concerto in D major》 was divided into three movents. Since it was a violin concerto, the violin was the protagonist of the piece.

After a long and unhurried ensemble, a splendid and lancholic violin rang out.

Since Qi Mu was the concertmaster, he sat to the left of the conductor and was the leading perforr.

His eyebrows furrowed, Qi Mu played low, soft tones with the utmost focus. The moderate allegro drew on like a singer, singing softly about the sadness of its life.

Qi Mu's violin was like a stream flowing through an empty valley, full of loneliness and lancholia. Although sotis blocked by the stones in its path, it always moved forward, using lancholia as a way to express the pursuit of a wonderful life.

Because it was a , people paid more attention to the violin solo, since it was also a test of the concertmaster's skill.

The audience had long guessed that this young man with such great fa would be talented. But, when they heard such a dreamlike 《Violin Concerto in D major》, they were so surprised, they couldn't respond. So couldn't even believe it——

"Is that really a student?!"

Music was never about age. Just like Mozart, who created the famous 《Violin Sonata in C major》 at the age of 8, no one could imagine the limits of a genius.

Although they didn't dare compare the youth to the gifted Mozart, many of them thought: This is probably the most lodious and graceful 《Violin Concerto in D major》 I've heard in years!

From the allegro in the first movent to the short ballad attacca in the second and the third movent…

Furnished with top-notch audio equipnt, the Philharmonie de Paris brought the 《Violin Concerto in D major》 back to life. The lodious tune and the moving sound of the violin depicted a lifelike Russian landscape. The people couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature.

At the end of this piece, the audience gave them thunderous applause after a loud "Bravo!"

Min Chen's burning gaze was glued to the youth on the stage. While clapping, his lips were slightly curled in an imperceptible smile. Beside him, Leonid was waking up from a trance. He looked at the joyful orchestra mbers on the stage and at the concertmaster in the front.

"It's only been half a year. I can't believe it… He made another breakthrough, at his level?!" Leonid clapped as he muttered to himself. "Isn't he progressing too quickly? His splendor wasn't inferior to Wei Ai's Zayev, wasn't it? And… What's with the orchestra's ability to cooperate? Are they really students?!"

Min Chen's excellent hearing allowed him to hear Leonid's muttering amidst the warm applause. Looking down, Min Chen whispered, "So, Leonid, what do you think of the performance?"

"It's very good, of course…" Leonid's words stopped abruptly. The famous music critic suddenly raised his face. Dropping his hands, he said, "Very good… But it's just impossible as it's far, far away from the standard I set, haha!"

Min Chen stared at Leonid. He knew he had a short-term mory. Min Chen didn't say a word.

Leonid reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead, thinking: Luckily, I was quick. Luckily…

Leonid breathed out in relief, but he didn't expect the next performance would make him… cling to his seat for his life.

Although the orchestra was invited to perform at the Philharmonie de Paris and could perform a serious concert before a large audience… to get Leonid's attention was a feat in itself.

So, why was Leonid there that night?

It was because he received a secret repertoire and an official invitation from the concert hall.

The thin card was printed with the repertoire of the night's performance so the audience would know the pieces. Of course, Leonid had known the repertoire from the get-go. It was because of the pieces that he decided to attend the concert——

He wanted to know… to what extent the students could perform Tchaikovsky's music.

Tchaikovsky was the greatest musician and composer of Russia in the 19th century. He wrote many symphonies, operas, and ballets in his life that beca the force that compelled Russian's developnt in classical music.

This brilliant maestro's repertoire was full of Russian folk flavor, using beautiful lodies to showcase the charm of the world's largest country——their vast territory overflowing with gorgeous scenery.

… Leonid was very fond of Tchaikovsky's symphonies.

Among them, 《Symphony No. 1 in G minor》 was his favorite.

This piece also had a nickna, 《Winter Daydreams》. True to its na, it depicted the frozen beauty of the vast nation. Full of love for the land, Tchaikovsky described a wonderful winter scene that could never be seen in France, in four movents.

The orchestra roared through the concert hall.

The passion in the violin group, the lingering cello, the woodwind group's joy, and the brass groups' contemplation and exploration…

The wonderful lody reached the highest resonance in the last movent, transforming the dark winter night into brilliant winter sunshine. The famous fighting nation won the battle in the cold winter and shared its precious joy with the audience.

Running, laughing, singing, dancing, whistling…

When the violin reached the highest note, they finally arrived at the closure of this wonderful dream with a lodious and bright tune.

When the music stopped, a loud "Bravo" resounded through the hall.

Sitting in the front row, the French music critic couldn't stop himself from standing up and applauding the orchestra.

Leonid never imagined that a group of young students could play such an excellent 《Winter Daydreams》!

This performance brought him back to eight years earlier, when he listened to Bai Ai's performance of the sa piece in Berlin. The lody, with a trace of tal texture, made him involuntarily cry. From then on, it had always been his favorite piece.

With his applause, the rest of the audience followed suit, and an unprecedented wave of cheers broke out.

Leonid sat back in his seat amidst the thunderous applause. Although he had stopped clapping, he kept praising. "It was so great, I couldn't believe my ears! A college orchestra could play Tchaikovsky《Winter Daydreams》like that, with such excellence?! How could there be such an excellent college orchestra, with such lovely students?!"

Just like the fans who had entered the pit, Leonid turned to the man at his side and said, "Auston! Focus! Did you hear that 《Winter Daydreams》 just now? Oh God, I didn't expect these children could play so well! I think it will take them five years. If they train together for another five years, I believe their 《Winter Daydreams》 would beat the one you conducted!"

The man calmly raised his eyebrows and stared at Leonid. The man kept speaking. "Damn it, I thought I would just listen to them casually tonight. I didn't expect them to give such an excellent performance! Their 《Violin Concerto in D major》 was also outstanding. Maybe the students are really good with Tchaikovsky's music?"

With that, Leonid began to probe Min Chen. "Oh, Auston, you're more familiar with orchestra than I am. I wonder if you think the orchestra… Ah…"

His words stopped abruptly as he looked at the man. After blabbing for so long, Leonid finally rembered… the damned bet.

Leonid: "…"

With an eyebrow slightly raised, Min Chen asked: "Are they outstanding?"

Leonid, refusing to answer: "…"

"I'll be very glad to see your review in 《World of Music》 once again, Leonid. I believe the lovely students will buy four or five copies each to give to their families. I can just picture them, telling everyone they know to listen to… your favorite 《Winter Daydreams》."

Leonid, inside: "…"

No bet, I didn't bet!!!

God, how on earth did he board Auston's pirate ship?!!!

Translator(s): Kuro

Editor(s): Empress

Proofer(s): Ayn