Chapter 10.8 - Act 10: D.C. 8 (2/2)

It would be troubling to have a mosquito-like voice in a heavy song right?

Well, although it would be difficult to precisely estimate the voice type required by the song, we could still prepare for it.

Like what I had been doing just then, we could practise together with a candidate for the main vocal beforehand. That way, the conductor would be choosing from a pair of vocals with well-harmonised voices versus candidates that just sang well.

Between a well-made set menu and few singular items, there was a higher chance for the set menu to be picked right?

The reason I didn’t choose Lee Suh-ah was… although she was good at singing, she was too good and it was difficult for me to match it. It was also doubtful whether she would listen to my calls in the first place.

While I was organising my thoughts, Han Dasom looked up at me and asked with a nod.

“Harmony… Nn, I get it. Then how should we practise…?”

“Should we check our current standing first?”

We had to check where our skills were at before practising. With my words as a signal, Han Dasom immediately stood up from her seat and carried her feet carefully until she was in front of me.

Then, she started singing without a single bit of hesitation.

“Sulle, Sulle labbra, Sulle labbra–”

With a faint smile hanging on her lips, her tongue twitched softly as her voice gently seeped into the ears. Listening to her song, my eyebrows were raised as my lips formed a smile.

Il Bacio – The Kiss.

It was a rather famous Italian art song describing the emotions of a lady in love.

“Tutte ti direi le dolcezze dell’amor–”

Closing my eyes, I thought while appreciating her song.

I thought of this as well during the Prac High-achievers Concert but she really did improve a lot. Her vocalisation pouring out connected flawlessly and the soft feeling unique to Han Dasom was multiplied and was very relaxing to listen to.

Her techniques that were slightly lacking were covered by her diligent practice throughout the first semester. Plus, the song was slightly waltz-like and it was possible for her to be confused about the beat but there weren’t any signs of that either.

Compared to the first few days of school, it was as different as heaven and earth.

I watched her singing with a beautiful smile on her face before closing my eyes as a memory of the future flashed.

In an audition programme, she had sung diligently and smiled as brightly as the sun after winning. Within the audience seats that everyone loved to visit, her parents did not show up a single time.

And soon, she had disappeared from the TV.

“Non son vaga d’altro affetto–!”

As the song ended, I quietly opened my eyes to see Han Dasom breathing in and out deeply, enjoying the lingering feelings after a song.

Staring blankly at the happiness hanging in her eyes, enjoying the spotlight of the practice room, I made a smile.

The past is in the past.

Just like how she, who had been shy, could sing without an issue and just like how my casual directions had sprouted her tremendous talent, there surely would be a way to change her future.

‘Perhaps it could happen through this Subscription Concert…’

After deep thought, I nodded my head and decided to do as much as I could for the Subscription Concert. Making that decision, I clapped and welcomed her.

“Well done. You’ve seriously improved a lot.”

“Hehe…”

As her expression relaxed bashfully, I quickly went through a simulation in my head.

Before deciding how to practise, let’s imagine what the Subscription Concert would be like. First, I imagined an ensemble of first and second-grade opera students and that large group amounting to forty, sang the chorus from the back as four students sang at the front.

‘The song…’

In front of my darkened vision, a few song titles started flickering past.

Hendel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem… to be honest, there were an enormous number of songs that could be chosen because from what I heard, we had done musical numbers as well as opera arias.

If my memory was amazing and could remember what we had sung twenty years ago, that would have been great but… otherwise, it was impossible to perfectly guess the song.

But even though I couldn’t remember it fully, there was still a memory of the melody remaining in my heart. It was a splendid melody that quaked my heart.

“…”

Matching that residue of melody, I adjusted the stage. With the mysterious orchestra accompaniment and a chorus of forty people as the basis, four voices including us would be in the lead.

Then how should Han Dasom and I sing to make the most optimum song? As I contemplated with a frown, a composition of our voices started matching itself.

‘A bit brighter? No, it’s going to be in the Seoul Arts Centre. Let’s make it darker so that it travels further.’

‘It’s a chorus of high school first and second-grade students. Then, the overall voice composition should be on the lighter side.’

‘To achieve harmony there…’

Suddenly, I remembered what happened back when I was going to an ensemble. Having the same old crooked smile, the conductor told me to kill my individuality. With a low voice, he would whisper that that was how ensembles were and that performers had to become conductor’s tools with a smile.

The memory of running away after being unable to hold back tightened my chest.

Did I have to do that again, because it was a chorus? Could harmonies only be achieved through dry and flat songs?

“…”

In an instant, various memories flashed across – entering a university after being chased out of Future Arts High, standing on various stages only to fail miserably or succeed, the memories of the days in the ensemble and Future Arts High after returning back.

I was swimming in the ocean of memories when I noticed a faint, delicate sound of a song. There, I could hear four voices leading forty members of the ensemble.

The first voice I heard was a warm timbre belonging to Han Dasom that seemed to tickle the heart. It was a soft voice that was slightly more improved than right now.

After that were the firm voices of upperclassmen. Although I couldn’t even remember their faces, I could definitely remember their voices with great foundations.

And mixing into that was my voice.

“…”

Listening to the song gently spreading across, I smiled.

This was it.