Chapter 81
After BBC Philharmonic’s concert, Vienna seemed to usher in the lively season of performance .
In just one week, Qi Mu watched four world-class orchestras’ concerts with Akkad . From the Salt Lake City Symphony Orchestra and the Japanese NHK Symphony Orchestra to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Symphony Orchestra . The auditory feast left Qi Mu’s ears in an overwhelmed state, and he gained a lot of insight .
He used to live in Vienna, but when the other world-class orchestras were there to perform, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra also had their tour . So he always played elsewhere and missed their staggering concerts .
Being able to enjoy so many excellent concerts at once was not only a pleasure for Qi Mu but also an opportunity for him to temper himself and discover his short-comings .
Min Chen contacted him once and wanted to meet, but Akkad looked Qi Mu dead in the eyes and almost left with him .
One day, the poor Little Seven thought about it, and just as he started to mention the name “Min Chen,” the grumpy maestro immediately said, “Oh, Little Seven . I didn’t tell you this, but Auston is a bad one! Don’t contact him anymore!”
Qi Mu: “ . . . ”
“Little Seven, although Auston has excellent music skills, he’s not necessarily a good person . That little fellow Daniel is always calling him “The Devil . ” He must have an even worse temper than me!”
Qi Mu: “ . . . ”
So you know you have a bad temper . . .
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Akkad scowled and said disdainfully, “Besides, his violin is far worse than yours! It’s not good! It really is terrible! I don’t think it’s any better than Dylan’s . ”
Qi Mu: “ . . . ”
To have an exclusive professor-level mentor, Dylan was very good, professor . . .
“So, as I was saying, Little Seven, you should only contact that guy for professional guidance in the future . I’ve been around for many years, but I don’t know what he has hidden in his heart . That guy is bad, you should . . . ”
“Teacher!” Qi Mu raised his hands in surrender and laughed . “I promise I will not secretly meet Min Chen again in the future . ”
Professor Akkad was relieved with Qi Mu’s assurance . He whispered, “Good enough,” before taking his lovely student off the subway to visit another of his old friends .
In his mind, although Auston seemed like a good guy . . . He was actually bad . If Little Seven was fooled by him, would he ever be able to escape?
This wouldn’t do!
In the clear blue sky above, the breeze dispersed the clouds . Only a few large ones still hung against the blue backdrop like white gemstones .
Qi Mu followed his teacher . A smile flashed in his pale eyes, and his lips curled up . If he couldn’t meet secretly . . .
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Then why not meet openly?
How could Teacher have such prejudice against Min Chen?
——Qi Mu expressed his doubt for the 99th time .
The person Akkad brought Qi Mu to visit this time was another well-known violinist . After so many years of being immersed in classical music, people formed their own unique, mild temperament . Among the world-class virtuosos that he knew, apart from Professor Akkad and Mr . Evra . . .
It seemed most people had good tempers .
And what about Min Chen?
He was a gentleman!
Qi Mu really didn’t understand why Min Chen won with such an unbeatably high score on that Danube Forum ‘Conductor with the worst temper’ poll .
Akkad told Qi Mu to bring his violin today precisely because he wanted Qi Mu to play some in front of his friend and get some advice .
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Every musician had their own style . Generally speaking, none of the masters were better or worse than the other . Other than those who were too outstanding and regarded as gods, of course . In the violin world, Reed Akkad, Farrell Louis and the one they were visiting that day, Lance Trier, naturally fell into that category .
After listening to Qi Mu’s 《E minor》 and 《Devil’s Trills》, the mild-mannered violinist pondered for a while . “Since Reed told me to give you some pointers, Little Seven, I won’t be polite . ”
Qi Mu solemnly nodded . “Yes, Master Lance . ”
When he saw Qi Mu’s modest and serious expression, Lance smiled with admiration . He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and said, “Seven, your violin skills are already high . To tell you the truth, my hands have been shaking more over the years, and my playing may not be as good as yours . ”
Akkad said, “Lance, you’re almost 80 . Now, it’s the young men’s world, haha!”
Lance shook his head and objected, “No, Reed . I think, even if it was thirty or forty years ago, my ability is probably worse than your student’s . You know I was never able to practice 《Dance of the Goblins》 well, and I’ve never played it in public . ”
Akkad choked on his words and uttered, “I didn’t expect you to see that video . . . ”
During Qi Mu’s impromptu open-air performance, some bystanders took a video of him playing 《Dance of the Goblins》 and uploaded it on YouTube . Akkad didn’t pay much attention to that kind of thing, but when Qi Mu performed the following two days, the crowd increased in size . . .
The maestro had an epiphany . His student seemed a bit famous?
How could Akkad know it wasn’t just a little fame?!
With such a handsome and delicate face, his performance of such difficult pieces was impressive . Those videos gained millions of views on YouTube . It was like a fire, spreading across Europe!
If not for the firewall blocking the Huaxian fans, the count might have climbed even higher .
At Akkad’s helpless expression, Lance smiled . “My skills have always been worse than the dazzling things taught by that school of yours, but . . . ” At this, Lance turned to Qi Mu and continued, “But Seven, if I were to judge from only a musical point of view, your understanding of those two pieces . . . are different from mine . ”
Such a response shocked Qi Mu . He remembered; over half a month ago, the American violin queen said the same thing to him .
Qi Mu’s expression turned earnest in a way he couldn’t stop . “Your understanding of these two pieces . . . What do you mean, Master Lance?”
Lance replied, “Little Seven, though you and Reed have a good teacher-student relationship and your style is similar to his . . . Reed has gone through many setbacks and hardships, and his music was polished around those . So Reed’s 《E minor》 and 《Devil’s Trills》 are powerful and shocking . But . . . ”
After a pause, Lance continued, “Your performances amazed me . I’m probably too sensitive, but I noticed a sense of aggression in your music . Seven, have you experienced something unforgettably sad?”
Qi Mu was stunned by this remark, and before he could speak, Lance said, “Not sad, it’s . . . ” He sighed . “Well, this kind of aggression could also be called another word . It’s——”
“Resentment . ”