Chapter 170 (1/2)

As for the world’s top symphony orchestra and Austria’s national treasures, Wei Ai had gathered the best classical music talents in the world. In the process, it captured the hearts of tens of millions of music fans with its delicate, gentle timbre and lingering, romantic melodies.

When the orchestra announced the name of its vice chief in early 2017, people all over Austria and even the world didn’t expect that the orchestra over 100 years of age would choose such a young person as its new deputy chief.

If they were told that Qi Mu had been the chief of violin in the Palisade theater for half a year or that he’d gotten full marks in every school assessment of the Paris National Conservatory of music, those fans wouldn’t care at all.

Compared with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, those honors only showed that the young violinist was excellent, but not necessarily qualified to become Wei Ai’s deputy chief and lead the orchestra onwards.

Even some of Wei Ai’s senior fans had already noticed the young man’s position in Wei Ai wasn’t as simple as deputy chief. Anthony, the current interim chief, was too old to stay in the orchestra for long.

The outside world spread rumors, with major newspapers and magazines carrying out detailed reports and analysis on the matter. Some minor media sources even began staking groundless claims, making the matter even more confusing.

But now, Qi Mu didn’t care.

Dorenza was worried about Qi Mu visiting the orchestra for the first time, so he sent his right-hand assistant, Roman, to help Qi Mu get familiar with the Friends of Music Association building and the training and performance venues related to Wei Ai.

Qi Mu’s handsome face showed a smile when he saw the tall, cold-faced Roman again. He held out his hand and said, “Long time no see, Roman. Today, please show me around to help me understand the environment. Thank you very much.”

A good-looking and polite young man was naturally able to catch the favor of others. Especially during the deputy chief recruitment meeting, where Roman was the person who led Qi Mu into the preparation room. Therefore, he relaxed his stiff expression a bit and began to show Qi Mu around.

In one day, Qi Mu toured the whole Friends of Music Association building. From its oldest collection room to its large and small concert halls, the building was simply a history of classical music. It had precipitated a deep, profound musical atmosphere.

Qi Mu had been in the building for two months in his past life. At that time, he was busy just trying to get familiar with Wei Ai’s rhythm and complete the cooperative rehearsal. So, at that time, he only used to hang around in the lounge, rehearsal hall, concert hall, restaurants, and a few other places nearby. He didn’t explore much.

That day’s visit let Qi Mu really understand the magnificent building and look forward to his own life for the next year and a half.

After the afternoon tea, Roman took Qi Mu to the rehearsal hall where Wei Ai’s members often practiced.

Qi Mu opened the door and went inside. Before seeing the musicians rehearsing onstage, Qi Mu heard a melodious and soothing 《Little Doves Waltz》

The music was light and moving, like a group of doves walking in the sunlight of Prague Square, fluttering their wings and dancing happily. The sound of stringed instruments was neat and elegant, while the wind instruments were solemn in their strictness. The chief of the orchestra, Anthony, led the orchestra ensemble. Only when the song was over did he discover Qi Mu’s arrival.

“Oh, Little Seven! Have you already toured?”

Qi Mu turned to look at Roman, who showed him faithfully around the building. Roman pulled at the door with his hand and nodded gently to him.

After understanding the meaning of the other party’s intention to retire, Qi Mu looked at Anthony with a smile and said, “Yes, Mr. Anthony, I toured the whole building. By the way, were you playing the 《Little Doves Waltz》 just now?”

Anthony stood onstage and nodded to Qi Mu. “You heard it right, Little Seven. We were just playing 《Little Doves Waltz》by Old John Strauss. Afternoon tea just finished, so we planned to use 《Little Doves Waltz》to adjust the atmosphere.”

Hearing such an answer, Qi Mu didn’t know what kind of expression to give.

Old John Strauss naturally referred to the father of the Strauss father and son.

Different from the taboo of the Chinese people, the father and son, both great musicians, bore the same name. It forced the later generations to give the titles of “the old one and the young one” to distinguish them.

Min Chen once said that Austrians had an almost fanatical preference for the waltz, especially for Strauss and his son. Originally, Qi Mu thought he was exaggerating. After all, in the Palisade Theatre, only at the last rehearsal in the afternoon would he finish the day’s practice with 《The Blue Danube》.

But… take a look at the representative of Austria’s orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra!