Speaking the sentence, Dorenza’s face gradually fell as he watched the youth onstage.
The master conductor, recognized for his good temper, seldom wore such a solemn expression. At the moment, he looked sincerely at Qi Mu. Although he didn’t say anything else, he had a feeling that he was waiting for his answer.
After hearing Dorenza’s words, the other four judges turned their heads to Qi Mu. They were curious about what inspired the youth to make such a moving melody.
Qi Mu nodded calmly. “Mr. Dorenza, I was surprised to draw 《D Major》 this time. I don’t need to speak much on its popularity. In fact, I admit that I know every note of the piece by heart. If you asked me to play it on the spot, I would have no problem.”
The youth’s frank words made the orchestra’s concertmaster, Anthony, smile as he waited for Qi Mu to continue. “In fact, I thought long ago… Why have an Allegro after a Larghetto? It’s such a big contrast, it made me feel weird when I practiced it for the first time.”
Qi Mu had thought so for a long time. In fact, a very long time.
Before he entered the Geneva Conservatory of music in his last life, Qi Mu had more contact with Mozart, Menuin, Heifitz, and the music of other maestros. Back then, he was relatively young, unable to grasp their deep emotion. After entering the conservatory later on, he had more contact with Beethoven’s music. At the same time, he also had contact with the 《Violin Concerto in D major》.
When Qi Mu first entered the college in his last life, he felt that, compared to his cla.s.smates, he had too much to do. What he lacked wasn’t talent or diligence, but the advantages brought by family background and other reasons. So, he doubled his efforts to fill in the gaps in a year. At the same time, in the high-intensity study of the violin, he had questions about the 《D Major》.
A lot of young violinists first experienced 《D Major》by practicing each movement individually. But when the official performance came, most would have an orchestra accompaniment, with no chance to play the three movements continuously.
But, Qi Mu didn’t have much leisure time in his last life, so when he first came into contact with the tune, he practiced diligently for more than seven hours, playing through all the three movements.
In doing so, he discovered—
Moving from an allegro immediately to a larghetto was really an awkward thing, ah!
It wasn’t so obvious with the orchestra’s accompaniment, but without it, the change was so abrupt that he didn’t understand it at the time.
Qi Mu studied the piece for a long time in his last life, but he never understood it very well. However, now that he had an absolute sense of sound, he suddenly realized that maybe… there could be even greater gains from adapting the song?
Generally speaking, only composers and conductors could adapt a piece harmoniously, because their good ears and control over each note were beyond the scope of ordinary musicians.
Qi Mu, of course, hadn’t been trained in that field, but that didn’t prevent him from adapting the song—
Because he had absolute pitch.
After hearing his answers, the jury was surprised.
The concertmaster, Anthony, asked again, “Did you really only plan to adapt this song today?” After Qi Mu confirmed it again, even the second conductor Motl sighed and said, “Well, after decades of training, my sense of sound is absolute, but even I can’t adapt Beethoven’s music in such a short time…”
The third conductor, Nazat, joked, “If anyone had an innate absolute pitch, it would be Auston Bertram.”
After a few laughs, Dorenza looked at Qi Mu onstage, still calm and solemn. Slowly, slowly, he smiled, then nodded. “Little Seven, your mind is very delicate. I’m shocked you can pay so much attention to such a small rhythm problem. Perhaps Beethoven’s original symphony is more magnificent, but I personally think that your violin solo is more pa.s.sion-inspiring.”
After a pause, Dorenza smiled and said, “Little Seven, thank you for bringing us this wonderful 《D Major》. I wonder, would you like to have a good dinner with me on this wonderful New Year’s Eve? You are welcome to my home!”
Qi Mu was stunned when he heard the words, and light flashed through his heart as he reacted, suddenly realizing: Dorenza admitted him?!
But then, the handsome young man shook his head and replied with a smile, “Thank you for your invitation, Mr. Dorenza, but I’m going to spend the new year with Master Lance tonight.”
Hearing this, Dorenza said nothing more. He had his own wife and children to celebrate with, while Lance was alone in Vienna. It was a good thing that the child had the intention to accompany him.
As Qi Mu started to leave, he opened the door to the concert hall only to hear Tuckerman jokingly say in his wake, “So… We held such a grand recruitment meeting, and we finally chose Qi Mu as the deputy chief? Hey, Motl, don’t stare at me. Do you think someone would play a better tune than his 《D Major》? I don’t believe it! Where there are so many geniuses in this world, can they really all be focused on our Wei Ai recruitment meeting?”
Just as Qi Mu stepped out, Anthony said, “No, Tuckerman. In fact, today’s recruitment meeting isn’t a waste. It has another advantage, at least… It let me really see the child’s strength. I think that after I leave the orchestra, the child will definitely take the members of the orchestra and lead Wei Ai to a new height.”
After a sigh, Nazart smiled and said, “This is really an era of talents! Anthony, I really think we were born decades too early. In this era, there are Auston Bertram, Christole, Jenny, and Qi Mu. How young they are and how old we are! But, it’s the happiest thing to witness their rise. I believe that Qi Mu, as a child, will be the next Christole!”
Hearing this, Qi Mu’s steps paused, and he turned to look at Nazart in surprise.
The Russian conductor even compared him with Min Chen, Christole, and Jenny, the chief of the Symphony Orchestra in Dresden. Such evaluation was too high for the current Qi Mu.
But, the next second, Dorenza’s words completely shocked him. “My dear Nazart, do you think this child will only become the next Christole? There may be a second Christole in the world, but please believe me, I think—”
“There will never be a second Qi Mu in the world!”
Bright, gentle sunlight shone down through the landing window of the Friends of Music a.s.sociation building, gilding the youth’s black hair in a golden edge. As the light shone down, his eyes slowly opened, and Qi Mu stared at the virtuous conductor in the concert hall. But, the conductor seemed to smile slightly in his direction.
The next moment, the door closed with a click.
But, Dorenza’s voice echoed in Qi Mu’s ear for a long time.
It would become a famous saying in Wei Ai many years later——
『There will never be a second Qi Mu in the world! 』