Chapter 76
The Huaxia classical musicindustry was a quiet, waveless pool. Apart from the occasional headline thatread, "S City Symphony Orchestra about to start tour," or, "Who won the huxiayouth group?", the industry remained stagnant.
Until. . . the《Music Hall》 May 2016 edition came out.
As one of Huaxia's top classicalmusic magazines, and having been in print for over 30 years, they were the well-deserved big brother ofthe industry. Compared to their peers, 《Music Hall》 had statesupport and branches in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, New York, and more. Theydelivered the best information at both home and abroad.
Photos of Chinese musicians or shows often graced their covers.This issue, though, surprised everyone with——
A recital?!
The photo of a beautiful youth holding a violin and wearing asmile took up the cover's largest section. A third of the picture, however, wasrelegated to a handsome, profound face almost obscured by the shadow under thestage.
Most lighting in the photograph focused onthe stage, so few could recognize the man under it. But. . . they knew thecenter of attention, and several cried out, "Qi Mu?!!!"
In large font, the title read——
《Huaxian Violinist, Qi Mu, Wins First Place of the Paris'Conservatory of Music's Assessment》.
This seemingly small stone was cast quietly into the long silenceof the Huaxia classical music industry. Ripples spread, bit by bit. . . and injust four hours, the news turned into a massive wave!
“He really became Reed Akkad's student!”
"Sure enough, he went toParis' Conservatory of Music. I didn't expect to be right…"
"It's amazing he can beReed Akkad's student!"
. . .
"What?! First place in thecollege's assessment?! The Paris' National Conservatory of Music, at that? Isthis true?!"
"Haha, I know Xiao Qi isthe most powerful. First place is nothing unusual!"
“You know a fart, this is the assessment for the entireuniversity. Did you not see the report? They mentioned that the one in thesecond place, who played the piano, accepted the invitation of the New YorkPhilharmonic Orchestra. After graduation, he'll serve as their residentpianist!”
. . .
All kinds of voices rang throughout Huaxia, and their discussionswere heated.
When Qi Mu left Huaxia that year, he left without revealing hiscollege, nor which professor he would study under. Many wondered if he wasgoing to the Paris' Conservatory and whether Reed Akkad was even in Paris.
When it turned out to be a reality, the musicians were shocked bythe news.
Not only did he enter the Paris' National Conservatory, he wasalso Reed Akkad's student. And. . . in a little over a month, he won firstplace in the college's assessment.
A rocket jetting into space wasslower than his progress.
After 《Music Hall》 ‘s smooth report, many people cursed ZhouKang Sheng's words——
"Who wants to know howspectacularly Qi Mu played? Don't your pictures tell us that already?! And! Whydon't you tell us more on how Qi Mu is doing?!!!"
Some people focused on Qi Mu's recent sensation in Paris, butothers… were interested in something else.
". . ."
"Ah, look. . . this person applauding, isn't that Min Chen?"
"It looks like him but. . .I don't think so. He gave Qi Mu a standing ovation?!!!"
"Oh, this Qi Mu is toopowerful!!!"
. . .
Similarly, when Min Chen's presence was discovered, some peoplethought, "This Qi Mu must be anoutstanding violinist for Min Chen to give him a standing ovation." Others paidfor cross-ocean telephone bills to call and ask directly, "Xiao Qi, Mr. Min wasin Paris all along? Why didn't you tell me?"
When Qi Mu received the callfrom Zheng Wei Qiao, he was cooking dinner. He took the phone in one hand, the chilisauce in the other, and replied, “Ah? He left Paris a few days ago. . .Zheng-ge, I didn't tell you? Min Chen stayed in Paris for quite a while, about aweek. . .”
Qi Mu nodded along with the voice over the line and said,“Well, I will inform you about these things in the future. You can restassured that I mind my manners with him. . . Well, don’t worry about it. . . Ahokay, we'll talk later, good night."
He put the phone aside and poured the canned chili sauce into thepot.
Earlier, Zheng Wei Qiao specifically mentioned that Qi Mu shouldnot behave. . . "frivolously" with Min Chen just because he was younger than othermasters.
Although Qi Mu promised, when he carefully thought about it. . .his attitude toward Akkad and Min Chen was different?
After careful consideration, Qi Mu finally had a satisfactoryanswer.
"Well, how could youworship a guy who's afraid of bugs? Shouldn't anyone be disillusioned?"
Of course, although he wasn't that courteous with him when theymeet, Qi Mu still respected Min Chen a lot.
A few days previous, Qi Mu watched the Berlin PhilharmonicOrchestra's concert in Zurich. It was the orchestra's closing concert of the spring.Min Chen served as pianist for a concerto and received warm applause for histalent.
If you want to idolize a person, worship their merits, and don'tthink about the messy stuff.
——As a victim of this poison, Qi Mu thought the saying wasaccurate.
Before the assessment, Akkad didn't mention what he expected from QiMu.
Only after Qi Mu won first place did the little old man say,"Little Seven, this is a good start. Do you want to keep up with this standard?The dean told Teacher if you get first place consecutively in threeassessments, you can directly graduate."
Given this arduous task, Qi Mu had just finished Bruch's 《Scottish Fantasy》.
Qi Mu first received the task with Paganini's 《Caprice No. 24》 with two weeks to practice. Then, a week forSarasate's 《Carmen Fantasy》. By the time he was tasked with Tartini's《G minor》, thetime limit had fallen to five days.
When he got 《ScottishFantasy》, Akkad straightforwardly said, "LittleSeven, you have to practice this song quickly. I've already booked a flight inthree days. You don't want to trouble me with changing the flight, right?"
Qi Mu: ". . ."
Qi Mu had yet to breathe a sigh of relief after playing 《Scottish Fantasy》 to Akkad's approval, and he alreadytriggered the task "win first place in the assessment three times in a row (13)".
The workload of all the students in the violin department couldn'tadd up to his!
Qi Mu struggled to smile. He gritted his teeth, "Okay, professor.I will. . . Work. Hard. Non-stop."
Akkad nodded and said, "Okay, go pack your clothes and stuff. Thistime. . . you can bring the violin along. It might come in handy."
After puzzling it over for two days, Qi Mu finally asked,"Teacher, where are we going? Are there activities you need to attend?"
Akkad stared at him incredulously. "Little Seven?! Don't you knowwhat month it is right now?"
Qi Mu automatically answered, ". . . May?"
Akkad nodded, "Yes, it's the Golden May! Do you. . . want to wasteyour time in this dull college?"
". . ."
Can you say that again in front of the dean?
Earnest, Akkad continued, "Spring has just fully awakened, andEurope has ushered in the beautiful season. Seven, beautiful music is callingus. Don't you think that you should feel and embrace it?"
Qi Mu: ". . ."
Akkad put down the chocolate in his hand and said, “LittleSeven, you have to remember that it's hard to achieve anything with just hardwork and a dull mind. Isn’t there an old saying in Huaxia, what was it, 'Driving with the door closed'?"
Qi Mu gently corrected him, "It's 'to build a cart behind closeddoors.'"
"Yeah, that's it.Therefore, we must leave. We need to go out and see more things and enrichourselves with this experience, you know?"
The young man smiled helplessly and admitted defeat. "Yes, sir. Iknow. But. . . can you first tell me where we're going?"
The professor stood and walked towards him. He laughed, "Seven,there is a place in Europe where you need to go."
"That place is. . . Vienna."
Translator
(s): Kuro
Editor
(s): Empress, Bet