Chapter 3 (1/2)

B City’s Symphony Orchestra was one of the most famous orchestras in Huaxia. Generally speaking, for a large orchestra like this, they usually have their own fixed team and rarely recruit new members. However, there were still situations like today, where the empty position was important, so they had to recruit outsiders.

When Qi Mu arrived at the audition’s location, there were already many people waiting in the room.

Zheng Wei Qiao informed him, “Most people who came here today are violinists from other orchestras in B City. You stayed in Europe for a long time, and you haven’t played here in Huaxia a lot. So teacher probably didn’t tell you, Huaxia’s symphony had a late start, and there are not too many personnel, so things like recruiting new members, or swapping members, happened a lot.”

Huaxia’s symphony history only began in the last century, and the internal management is a bit loose. In this aspect, it was quite similar to the North American orchestra.

In Europe, where orchestras had developed and were already matured, personnel changes were a rare occurrence. For example, in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra which had the reputation of “The Best in the World,” their leaders followed the rule of “no changes until death.”

Thinking of this, Qi Mu narrowed his eyes.

He remembered six years ago, the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra quit while he was at the peak of his career. He handed the baton to its current conductor and created the myth of the modern king of classical music.

“But don’t worry, the selection of B City’s Symphony Orchestra is methodical, and they use a random ballot. I believe in your strength.”

Qi Mu nodded gently and said with a laugh, “Yes, I will do my best.”

Pointing at a middle-aged man who was talking, Zheng Wei Qiao said, “That’s the deputy chief violinist of B City Symphony Orchestra, he’s pretty good, so he’s your biggest competitor.” Having said this, it seems like he’s worried about the youth’s self-esteem, Zheng Wei Qiao hurriedly added, “Of course, he never played in the Golden Hall. If you hadn’t abandoned the violin for the past few years, you would’ve surpassed him.”

Qi Mu, who knew nothing of his thoughts, nodded and showed a calm smile, “Yes, Zheng-ge. I won’t underestimate my opponent, don’t worry.”

Zheng Wei Qiao smiled and, after a few more encouraging words, he went over to an old friend to catch up. Qi Mu placed the violin case on the table and took out a delicate and beautiful violin. He began to tune it.

The violin’s curves were smooth and graceful, the spruce lines on the panel were clear as if it was carefully crafted by God. When Qi Mu took it out of the green velvet case, it caught the attention of the violinists near him. All of them gasped in amazement.

“What a nice curve, this violin is beautiful!”

“The design is a bit like a lyre, small on the head, wide downward and the middle line is beautiful.”

“It’s not a real Stradivarius violin, right? How much is that worth?”

. . .

The violin was one of the collector violins made by Master Stradivari more than 200 years ago. It didn’t have the shape of a standard violin. Whether it was the carving on its head, the panel curvature or board thickness, it was all at the peak of the craft. Ten years ago, Europe had auctioned one of the violins in this collection, and it sold for 3.5 million.

Qi Mu didn’t pay attention to the voices. He picked up the bow and wiped it with rosin for a while then he started tuning.

He naturally knew that this was not a real one, each violin of that collection was a priceless one, even the nouveau riche couldn’t just casually buy one.

The one in his hands was an imitation or a replica of one, made personally by Master Zhao Shi Cheng, a master in Huaxia. Even if it was an imitation, it still sold at six figures.

But. . . wasn’t there a real one in his family’s possession?

Qi Mu knew that his parents had an exquisite and expensive violin, and it could sell for at least seven digits on the market. That violin was currently in a Swiss Bank safe, initially prepared for the original once he turned 18, but now. . .

Xiao Gongzhu is literally “Little Princess.”

The group of people in his parents’ circle of friends worried about his seeming lack of a bottom line since he even wanted to sell the “Xiao Gongzhu.” So they decided that he couldn’t take it until he performed in the Golden Hall again, and only then could he have the violin.

Qi Mu couldn’t help but sigh. He knew that the original had lost the right for the violin.

“Is this. . . Master Zhao’s replication?” A surprised male voice came from behind him, and he turned to look at the person. He then saw a young violinist looking at him, “I’ve seen Master Zhao’s works before. He always bends the curve on the head of the violin in all of his works.”

A little distracted, Qi Mu smiled, “Yes, it is Master Zhao’s work.”

“Really! It’s actually Master Zhao’s replication, that’s so rare!” The young man looked at the violin in his hands several times and, after hesitating for a while, he finally asked, “Excuse me, um. . . Are you Qi Mu?”

The young man’s voice wasn’t loud, and it was drowned out by the crowd quickly afterward. Practicing his violin, only the middle-aged man near them heard it. He then glanced over at them in surprise.

Actually, Qi Mu was also surprised.

The original didn’t show himself in public since he was 14 years old, his appearance had also changed a little. It was reasonable to say that not many people could recognize him. But it looked like this young man who was in his 20’s was able to identify him at a glance, it really surprised him.

“Yes, I am. Do I know you?” Qi Mu’s eyebrow rose slightly, and he wore an awkward smile.

The young man whispered, “It’s really you! I grew up watching your performance! I really love the one you performed 《Bat Overture of Die Fledermaus》 with Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, especially the last allegro. Your skills are really amazing!” The youth at his side couldn’t help but hum quietly, and Qi Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

This young man looked like he was a little bit older than the original, and yet he said he grew up watching him perform. . .

Although it was not intentional, if a person who was quite astute heard someone say this, they can’t help but think that he was being sarcastic.

Qi Mu slightly lowered his eyes and smiled, “Thank you for the compliment. I heard you practicing 《Mazas Op. 36》 over there, your vibrato is good.”

The young man heard this and excitedly carried a conversation with Qi Mu, but it wasn’t long before it was his turn to audition. Qi Mu smiled and, after giving the young man a few encouraging words, he stayed where he was and continued rubbing his bow with rosin.

He never liked to practice before his performance unlike most people, so he would just rub his bow with rosin. He never seemed to be bored with watching the white powder on his bow.