Chapter 104 (2/2)

Walking into this simple yet concise building, Qi Mu felt as if he had entered an exhibition art hall of modernist style.

On both sides of the transparent corridor framed by four-sided glass, there were pictures of past Bai Ai members including information on their conductors and concertmasters. These photos ranged from oil paintings to black and white photographs to today’s colored ones, bearing witness to the heavy history of this centuries-old orchestra.

Qi Mu looked at these pictures and arrived at the last few before he abruptly stopped. He stared at the white-haired old man in the photograph in a daze.

“This picture was taken two years before Master Karajan’s death,” Min Chen’s magnetic voice chimed in Qi Mu’s ear, the warm breath he exhaled was a bit unstable, betraying his thoughts, “I was only 4 when he died, it was the same year he resigned from Bai Ai.”

Qi Mu had just entered the Geneva Conservatory of Music when he discovered Bai Ai’s motto of “never change until death.” The world’s number one symphony orchestra had the best mastery of music and was extremely demanding when hiring.

But now, seeing the picture of a man who was old but still wore a stern expression, Qi Mu felt nothing but admiration.

Herbert von Karajan, a musician also known as the “conductor emperor.”

During the 34 years of his career as a conductor, the man brought the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, which had always been at the top, even higher, becoming a behemoth in the classical music world. A reputation that was still maintained today.

Looking at the maestro’s picture, Qi Mu sighed, “Unfortunately, Master Karajan died when you were 4. I guess you’ve never met him. . .”

“No, I did.”

Qi Mu turned to Min Chen in surprise. The latter just stared at him. “When I was 4, I followed my parents to a Bai Ai concert and met Master Karajan backstage.” Under Qi Mu’s expectant gaze, Min Chen recalled the moment then continued, “He was. . . a very serious maestro.”

Qi Mu smiled then nodded in response, “Well, his style was the same.” The young man couldn’t stop himself from sighing softly and said in disappointment, “Unfortunately. . . I can’t hear his concert live.”

Seeing the young man’s lost expression, the handsome, indifferent-looking man squinted slightly. After a while, he pointed at the picture next to the maestro’s and said, “But you can listen to his.”

Qi Mu immediately looked in the direction Min Chen was pointing and. . .

“. . .”

Min Chen said solemnly, “His style is also excellent, and you can also listen to pieces of his own composition.” The man’s tone was somber as if he was talking about something vital, “Well, he composes his own scores and conducts them himself, and only he can understand the meaning of the pieces best.”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

A staff member of Bai Ai just happened to pass by and heard Min Chen’s serious words and couldn’t help bursting out in laughter. Min Chen calmly glanced at the person, and the staff immediately straightened up and walked away with a blank expression.

Qi Mu didn’t even look at the photo of the “conductor who could compose his own piece” and skipped directly to the empty picture frame beside it. He was surprised for a moment and said, “Strange. . . Shouldn’t Christole’s picture be here?”

Min Chen replied with a disappointed expression, “His picture is there.”

Qi Mu turned to look, and as expected, the picture of Christole was set directly opposite the blank frame.

Although Bai Ai adhered to their principle of “unchanging till death,” this didn’t mean a conductor was allowed only one concertmaster. Things were changeable after all. Therefore, Min Chen and Christole, the orchestra’s current principal conductor and concertmaster’s pictures were not placed side by side, but opposite each other instead.

Qi Mu looked at Christole’s photo and information for a while then walked away. But after taking two steps, he found the man who was supposed to follow his lead hadn’t moved.

Qi Mu turned to search for him only to find the man still standing in the same spot with a calm, unperturbed expression, looking at him from afar. When the young man turned to him, he asked in a very calm, low voice, “Really. . . don’t need to see?”

Qi Mu: “. . .”

After Qi Mu patiently saw the man’s picture and his information, Min Chen took him to the orchestra’s rehearsal hall, looking satisfied.

As they walked, Qi Mu looked at the cool, elegant man. It was difficult to associate this man with the childish fellow just now.

With a helpless smile, Qi Mu whispered, “Actually, I don’t need to look at that information because. . . I’ve already remembered it long ago.”

Min Chen’s footsteps came to a still. After a long while, he just let out a low hum. His handsome face still wore a calm expression, but his lips were slightly upturned, betraying his obvious happiness.

Brilliant sunshine radiated through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside was a relaxed afternoon panorama. Qi Mu followed Min Chen down the corridor for a while, and they finally arrived at the end.

Beyond this door was Bai Ai’s rehearsal hall.

Qi Mu entered the headquarters of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time on August 2, 2016.