Chapter 203 (1/2)
Volume 6 / Chapter 203
TL: LightNovelCafe
All of the broadcasting stations were preparing for live commentary for the last day of the competition finals. Large screens were installed in the lobby and outside of the theater out of consideration for the people who could not acquire tickets.
There was especially a lot of anticipation for Jun Hyuk, who had conducted in 2 different ways, in the thoughts that he might show yet another performance.
The biggest watching point is to watch conductors with 2 completely different styles in sequence to compare them. This kind of unique stage is hard to come by again.
The audience filling the seats did not stop applauding when Jun Hyuk appeared on stage. They are an audience that knows that there are manners that they need to maintain, but they were showing how shocked they were by his previous performances and their anticipation for today’s.
Eventually, the moderator needed to come back on stage and calm them down.
The audience members gripped the edges of their seats and waited for the rollercoaster to take off.
The rollercoaster began on Jun Hyuk’s signal. When the suspenseful gallop ended, there was applause but it showed signs of regret. It was a lacking performance for the people who had been watching throughout the entire competition. They had been expecting a completely different conducting, but today’s performance was like that of his 2nd.
The only thing that lessened their disappointment was that it was a more aggressive performance with bolder soloists.
After a period of time for rest and lunch, Pierre Boulez’s last performance started. A continuous tempo and unchanging conducting, the soloists playing freely. The performance gave them the same emotions.
All of the performances of the competition were over, and all of the finalists went on stage to thank the audience. It was the most dynamic performance of the Queen Elisabeth Competition history, and a successful competition with constant news. It of course brought in the most amount of profit.
The 12 finalists could not leave the theater because they were waiting for the announcement of the judging results, while the conductors and orchestra celebrated their finishing up the competition well.
There were also people who needed to think hard and make serious decisions over the next 2 hours.
“We are judges right now. I’m sure you all know that the world’s attention is on us.”
The committee head’s stiff voice showed that she too is serious.
“The Queen Elisabeth Competition’s status could change in any way according to the results we make. That is why I would like to make a new suggestion.”
It is a great relief that there is a committee head to align them. If the standard is to deduct, it may be comfortable for the judges but the audience would not be able to understand it. Furthermore, if they consider the great maestros who watched the competition keenly, they get in a cold sweat.
“Let’s forget all about how many mistakes there were and the perfection of technique. There especially must not be a comparison of the 2 conductors.”
The element that skewed fairness most is the 2 maestros’ overwhelming conducting. They fully know that they need to think of the soloists’ performances while judging, but the pros and cons of the conductors kept popping up in their heads.
“So what are you thinking, Committee Head?”
“I had a question as I watched the 2 performances today. If I get to see Maestro Jun’s choral concerto in concert again, what kind of orchestra would be good for it?”
“Excuse me? You’re talking about a different orchestra all of a sudden?”
“Yes. I thought about it for the sake of fairness. A philharmonic that is not the Belgian National Orchestra. I thought of the Vienna Philharmonic.”
“Vienna?”
“If it is the Vienna Philharmonic, that is strictly classical music, how would they interpret and express the choral concerto? Like Beethoven? Or would they reproduce the brutishness that the composer, Maestro Jun, showed us? I had all kinds of thoughts.”
The committee head was smiling. Her first smile showed that just the thought of it was exciting for her.
“And I imagined again. If it were Berlin? Munich? London? And New York? I became happy just imagining it.”
“Hm… I see. I understand. You’re telling us to choose the 2 soloists who would be able to appear with all of those philharmonics, right?”
“Yes. That’s exactly it. My thoughts are that those 2 people are those most suitable to win.”
There were judges who could not accept the committee head’s thinking as well.
“But this isn’t an audition for performers in a concert. It is a competition. We cannot ignore objective evaluations. Aren’t you telling us to make an assessment based on a momentary feeling?”
An evaluation based on emotion without objectivity. This method is just the most personal measuring stick used when someone repeatedly asks about the evaluation and it is hard to respond.
“If it had been a normal competition like that of last year, I would not have needed to say this. But isn’t this year a bit of a special situation?”
The committee head responded while looking straight at the judge in opposition.
“Are you able to completely erase the orchestra and make an assessment based on the soloists’ performances alone? No, Maestro Boulez has already brought the incredible name of Beethoven into this competition. How would you be able to score his conducting – the 4th part in particular? Do you remember the piano and violin melody exactly?”
The judges cannot deny what she is saying. If they look at the 4th part alone, they do not remember the piano and violin solos so well that they can recall them exactly.
The entirety has just become one piece of music.
“And I’ll be honest. Think of the dozens of maestros who are in the theater now. If we judge on a deduction system, we’ll have to face their criticism first. The quality of the show and remote competition. Aren’t those the common criticisms? I don’t think it would be bad for our Queen Elisabeth Competition to be the first to break away from such obsolete methods.”
The conference room was encompassed in silence again, as though accepting the committee head’s words as a conclusion.
***
“I don’t think I would be able to do it if I was a judge.”
“Seems like it, right? There are too many variables to consider. The piece, conducting, the soloists’ abilities, and the ensemble.”
“There’s one other thing. He he.”
“Yes. The fearsome Beethoven!”
“No matter what the conclusion is, opinions are going to be divided.”
Opinions were even divided among the reporters and critics waiting for the judges’ decision in the theater lobby. The reporters held on to the critics in the lobby and kept asking for analyses and predictions on the results.
“If you were to personally give points, who would win?”
“I want to give the highest points for Jun’s 2nd performance. And that includes the soloists.”