Chapter 39 (2/2)

Everyone in the concert hall saw the handsome youth enter from the left side carrying a yellow violin. He wore a black suit, like the New York members, but he had a white tie. This white color lined the young man’s beautiful face and made it even better, letting everyone in the audience stare blankly.

After a moment, they suddenly realized that person was. . . Qi Mu!

Someone once commented on the temperaments and appearances of several famous musicians in a western magazine forum. At first, everyone was inclined towards people that played the piano. But the temperament was generally not much worse. Until someone nominated the concertmaster of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. . .

All in all, although the classical music industry was not like the entertainment circle where there were beautiful people everywhere, most people in classical music had a restrained temperament, and it made people more comfortable. It could be said that they had a few, though not many, good looking people, but now. . . now they would be renowned for one.

By the end of the handshake between Boswell and Qi Mu, some viewers had still not returned to their senses. After a while, a child whispered, “Really good looking, ah, I don’t know. . . how good is his violin? This won’t be an embroidered pillow, right?”

Li Yue Yue couldn’t even hear these people’s voices at the moment. She only saw the young man politely bow on the stage. After he had straightened up again, Qi Mu naturally placed his bow against the strings of his violin.

Qi Mu then lifted his chin and turned to look at Boswell, waiting for his command.

The next moment, the clarinet sounded first, and the atmosphere was restless and depressed. This gentle music continued, and that anticipated moment grew closer until, finally, Qi Mu narrowed his eyes and suddenly. . .

Pulled the bow across his violin!

As a specially invited violinist, Qi Mu did not sit in the original seat for the concertmaster. Instead, he stood directly to Boswell’s left and gave his own performance.

Sibelius’ 《First Symphony in E Minor》 was divided into four movements. Two were slightly different andantes, one was a brief scherzo allegro, and the final piece was similar to a ling in Fantasia. The piece was brisk. The violin was its main theme, and its rhythm controlled the entire piece.

The young man’s left hand danced across the strings, and the dazzling light from above illuminated him, turning those white fingers almost transparent.

Li Yue Yue held her breath. While listening, while watching, she felt her soul fly from her chest. Her mind was filled with only the increasingly passionate sound.

The pace grew faster and faster. The music became more and more enthusiastic. And in the end, she saw that young man standing at the front of the orchestra suddenly draw his bow. The music that was so jarring lagged for a moment at its highest peak——

But it did not stop. . . no, it went even higher!

This was not Li Yue Yue’s first concert, but. . . it was the most memorable.

She sat in the middle of the first floor, her eyes wide as she stared at that handsome youth.

At times, Qi Mu would frown, and the music would gradually deepen along with that dignified expression. Other times, his lips would slowly curl upward, and he would exchange smiles with the conductor.

When the song reached the last 13-minute andante, the music that had accumulated for such a long time became rich. This majestic music and its intense sound, the audience could only surrender to the song’s momentum. At the very end, the violin burst to the height of its peak, and some people helplessly clenched their hands into fists while others couldn’t help but flush with excitement.

That last note finally fell.

The song was done.

The whole piece was forty minutes long, but no one thought it took too long!

Such magnificent music echoed in the audience’s ears. After a few minutes, someone shouted “Bravo!” as if they had just awakened. Applause rang through the concert hall after that, almost loud enough to raise the roof.

On stage, Qi Mu raised a beautiful hand and wiped away the sweat on his forehead.

He stared blankly out at the audience that had stood and was applauding below. The fingers holding his bow gradually tightened, and an inexplicable excitement swelled in his chest. December 18, 2015, this was Qi Mu’s first performance as concertmaster on the international level.

At the Sea Music Festival in Hong Kong.