Chapter 9 (1/2)

To be recognized by Zheng Wei Qiao as a seed player, Sheng Yan Hui was truly outstanding. His first song was op.18 in Mozart’s violin sonata. This was a tricky piece, yet he played it brilliantly.

After he completed his performance, he purposefully went over to Qi Mu and said general things like, “I’m honored to meet you again,” or, “I’m looking forward to your performance,” and so on.

Zheng Wei Qiao was embarrassed hearing this, but Qi Mu was like a cloud carried by the spring breeze. He smiled and answered him. It was as if he was very familiar with Sheng Yan Hui, and he didn’t put on any airs.

By the time Qi Mu went on the stage, several players already had their turn.

Qi Mu’s first song was 《Love Scene》by the great violinist Paganini. It was perhaps not his most outstanding work, but this piece was one of the most critical songs by this master violinist.

Paganini was the most outstanding violinist in medieval Europe, and it could even be said that he deserved the title of violin king. This master left dozens of musical pieces behind, and almost every piece was said to be written by God’s hand.

There was a story behind this 《Love Scene》: a rumor that a lady named Elisa fell in love with Paganini and asked him to compose this song to express these feelings, for it could only be played with two-strings.

For other people, this might be too difficult. But this was Paganini, simple as that.

This stunning violin master had a nickname——

Single string maniac.

Among the classical pieces in his repertoire, there were a few songs which were shockingly played with one string.

The 《Love Scene》 was a double stringed song. With the E string to represent the women and G string to represent the men, the two echoed each other at a distance, and finally, with a passionate duet, it deeply touched the lady.

If Mozart’s Sonata played by Sheng Yan Hui was at municipal level, then this 《Love Scene》 was at the national level. When the judges saw this song was performed, they were also taken aback. Qian Zhen Hua, an honorary member of Huaxia Musicians Association, said, “This song is a test of skill, I didn’t expect anyone to choose this piece for their first song.”

For the three songs used for this performance, most selected a song that required skill as the first song, an emotional piece as the second, and, for the third, one that they excelled at.

“I rarely see people chose Paganini’s song to display their skill!” Qian said with emotion, “What’s the name of this kid. . . Qi Mu? That name is a little familiar, isn’t that. . . is it. . .”

“It seems to be Qi Jun’s son?” the judge sitting next to him said.

Suddenly hearing a familiar name, Professor Karl turned in surprise and asked in stuttering Chinese, “Qi. . . Qi Jun? Is that Qi Jun of the S City Symphony Orchestra?”

Qian Lao sighed, “Indeed, that’s him. He and his wife died in a car accident a few years ago. I heard only their son is left.”

Professor Karl nodded and didn’t say anything else. The others also did the same. But no one heard the bearded foreigner sitting in the middle suddenly whisper in German, “Is it that. . . gifted child?”

All of this was unknown to Qi Mu.

Qi Mu’s choice of《Love Scene》 was a long-established plan.

It was absolutely impossible to choose a simple song to both win the competition and leave a great impression on people. But Paganini’s 24 Caprices was too tricky and the original also hadn’t played for a long time. It was impossible to practice it in such a short amount of time, so Qi Mu chose 《Love Scene》.

However, this song that was “difficult in the middle” and Qi Mu’s “dazzling skills” left a tremendous impact on the people present.

The G string was on the far left of the four strings on a violin. It was the thickest and produced the harshest sound.

The E string was located on the far right, being the thinnest, and it produced the lightest sound.

This great distance required a large swing of the bow from side to side, not only to strike the two strings accurately but to also ensure that the passionate feeling, like that of fire, could be expressed. On the stage, the audience only saw the youth’s beautiful fingers, like white jade, moving swiftly across the strings, and they just heard the melodious sound that poured from the small violin.

Qi Mu was born with an eye-catching pair of hands.

Under the high wattage spotlight, this pair of slender hands seemed to reflect the light, and people couldn’t retract their gazes. Despite the appearance that was akin to an embroidered pillow, these hands could play such a fierce song. It felt as though there was a small hammer tapping at the hearts of everyone present.

Even Sheng Yan Hui, who was listening in the background, was stunned.

When the song ended, the entire audience was silent.

At the end of this skillful performance, Qi Mu’s fingers were also slightly numb. He gasped softly, and even his handsome face was a bit pale from the long period of concentration and nervous tension.

The silence lasted for half a minute.

One minute. . .

Two minutes. . .

Three. . .

“Bravo!”

Someone suddenly shouted, then thunderous applause broke out.

During the wild applause, Qi Mu suddenly felt a quiet tremor in the deepest part of his heart. Ever since his rebirth, he had kept calm and finally there was a moment of joy. But he quickly concealed it and bowed politely then exited the stage.

Zheng Wei Qiao was already flushed with excitement.

“Qi Mu! You did great!!!” He directly hugged Qi Mu but, because Qi Mu was still holding his violin, the hug was brief, and he quickly released the youth. “That song definitely showed your skill, you deserve the highest score!”

Qi Mu was still immersed in that emotion from earlier and hadn’t returned to his senses. So he didn’t catch Zheng Wei Qiao’s words.

It had been more than ten years. . .

Since he last felt that kind of emotion?

Most people who joined an orchestra bid farewell to their music career. No matter who introduced them, they would always add the name of the orchestra before their name. Only a handful of people like the conductor or the concertmaster could make their reputation surpass the orchestra’s.

Before joining the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. . . No, before he joined his first orchestra, he had always struggled with the goal of “entering the orchestra” where everyone cheered for him.