The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 104



Only Noblemtl

104 In their center

* * *

– A musician and pianist who most wonderfully expressed the fantasy and splendor hidden in Schumann’s melodies. I don’t think anyone can disagree with this. –

What French young master Chloe Laurent said in an interview with a classic magazine.

The classical music world paid attention to her remarks, which directly mentioned one of the participants of the Ettlingen Youth Competition.

There were some notable talents in Ettlingen this time.

Anna Becker is called the genius of Munich.

Louis Wolff was born into a famous German musical family.

Fan Hui representing China.

Lily White from LA, USA.

People were predicting that a winner would emerge from among these.

A pianist can’t just pop out of nowhere.

A pianist who has been in the spotlight since he was young is destined to continue to be in the spotlight in the future.

Pianists who have been performing well in competitions for a long time are expected to continue doing so.

In a way, this is natural given the nature of learning the piano step by step.

This is why Anna Becker was called a genius.

A child who could not even touch the piano three years ago stood out as a gifted child representing Germany in a short period of time.

And that too, beating out all other gifted students.

Currently, the only gifted child in Germany who can match Anna Becker’s playing level is Louis Wolff, and there is a huge gap with the other children.

So people were vaguely thinking, ‘Anna will win this Ettlingen.’

But one participant started creating a variable.

A child from South Korea who had never been heard of anywhere created something extraordinary.

The youngest participant in the Ettlingen Competition.

I thought I would easily pass the first round of the finals, but I proudly took first place in the second round of the finals with an overwhelming score of 9.7 points.

A whopping 0.5 point difference from Anna Becker, who took second place, with 9.2 points.

Meanwhile, the contents of Chloe Laurent’s interview were made public…

People in the classical music world began to pay attention to the name ‘Han Seo-jin’.

And it was the same in Korea.

⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟, a classical music magazine with 50 years of history.

Choi Seon-young, a veteran reporter there, opened her mouth after reading an email sent by a local German official.

“The local atmosphere is amazing. Even the masters seem to welcome the child’s appearance. “I should have asked more detailed questions during the interview back then.”

Choi Seon-young was a reporter who personally interviewed Han Seo-jin before he went to Germany.

“I had no choice. “It wasn’t a child we knew well.”

“I should have noticed from the reaction of Kim A-ram, assistant manager of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.”

“But isn’t he someone who likes all children?”

“Yes, but… Now I can’t go to Germany… “It’s difficult.”

In fact, I just thought that Han Seo-jin would fail in the first or second rounds.

Not only is Ettlingen itself not an easy competition, but I knew from a long time ago that this year’s Ettlingen would be attended by outstanding young talent.

‘What kind of performance did they show me…’

Currently, there was no way to confirm Ettlingen’s performance in Korea.

It is true that Ettlingen left its doors wide open to the public, but did not make the participants’ performances public by uploading them to places such as NewTube.

In the name of pursuing tradition.

‘If you want to see the participants perform, it would be more meaningful to come to Ettlingen and see it in person.’

anyway.

The important thing is that ⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟ still does not know what kind of performer ‘Han Seo-jin’ is.

After thinking about it, Choi Seon-young called Kim A-ram, assistant manager of Siul City Hyang.

It was to make some predictions as to whether the child would really be able to win Ettlingen.

It has been almost 10 years since a South Korean participant won the race in Ettlingen.

What if that kid really has a chance to win Ettlingen?

‘Maybe I should go to Germany right now. The manager may not give permission easily.’

Choi Sun-young asked Kim A-ram for her opinion, and the answer she received was a bit disappointing.

– I saw him play only once. From a folk tale example. You never know what will happen to the concerto on the Ettlingen final stage.

‘It seems like a child wrapped in some kind of secret. There is so little information.’

Out of shame, I called Seolwha and Yejung.

Still, I couldn’t get much income.

So I tried to tackle this problem head on.

I made a direct call to student Seojin Han’s contact information that I received during the last interview.

but.

‘I don’t accept it either. Right now… he must be busy preparing for the final stage.’

There was no way anymore.

Choi Seon-young left a text message as sincerely as possible, asking if it would be okay to interview her over the phone later.

This was the best method for now.

I looked at the clock and it was already 5 minutes before my appointment time.

Ettlingen decided to forget about it for a moment.

‘Now we should pay more attention to the child who is attracting attention in Korea.’

Choi Seon-young moved to the ⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟ studio on the same floor.

There, a girl wearing a pretty dress jumped up from her seat when she saw Choi Sun-young.

Choi Seon-young also knew this child well.

“long time no see. how have you been?”

“yes. “It’s been a while, reporter.”

A girl with impressive long straight hair.

Baekwol Youth Competition, known as the most prestigious among domestic youth competitions.

This girl, who easily advanced to the final round, was a strong candidate to win Baekwol.

Choi Seon-young chuckled as he looked at the child.

“Haeun is now a young lady. When I saw her two years ago she was a total little girl. How did she grow up so much? And she turned out to be very pretty.”

“Well, not really.”

“Not really. Just by looking at him, he must be popular at school. Isn’t it possible that you are still doing class work even after entering the folk tale? Because class presidents also have to be popular.”

“That’s true…”

“look. I really didn’t know and almost didn’t see it? Is it because I even wore a dress today? “I thought you were a total princess.”

“······.”

Lee Ha-eun lowers her head and looks embarrassed. Her fingers are also twitching. Choi Seon-young looked at this with a happy expression.

It’s true that I intentionally gave more praise to liven up the interview, but that didn’t mean I was lying.

‘It’s so cute. Seeing that you made it from the back month to the finals, it seems like you overcame the slump well. ‘Is that why it got brighter?’

As I was looking at Ha-eun, I felt that time was passing quickly.

‘okay. Because two years is a long time for a child. There’s no way it could change like this.’

The interview soon started.

There were many things to ask Lee Ha-eun, who is currently showing overwhelming skills at the Baekwol Competition.

The interview lasted for over an hour, and several photos were taken in between.

Choi Seon-young found one unusual thing during the interview.

So I asked that question.

“So, a lot of things changed while you were with that friend? “I guess it affected me a lot.”

“I learned a lot about how to approach music. And more than anything, I received great help when I was having a hard time.”

“When you say difficult times, do you mean your slump times?”

Lee Ha-eun thought for a moment and then nodded.

Choi Seon-young was curious and asked who that friend was.

However, Lee Ha-eun’s answer was a bit ambiguous.

“He’s just an old friend of mine. “All I’ll say is that he’s a really great friend.”

Lee Ha-eun smiles brighter than ever.

It was the brightest expression on Ha-eun’s face that I saw during the interview.

* * *

Ettlingen, Germany.

– well! I heard that? I heard you talking about Ettlingen before you interviewed me, and it was definitely about you. You are so famous in ⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟!

Lee Ha-eun’s voice was very cheerful.

Even though I was on the phone, I felt like I knew what kind of expression Lee Ha-eun was making.

‘He’s too busy talking about me.’

However, I also had something to tell Lee Ha-eun.

So I changed the subject.

“Rather than that, congratulations. Baekwol Concours Final. It couldn’t have been easy. “I’m so glad.”

– ······.

Lee Ha-eun whispered inaudibly, “Thank you….”

Even after coming to Ettlingen, I often talked to my friends on the phone.

So, I knew roughly the news about my friends.

I heard that Shin Joo-won won a local contest.

Even though it’s really annoying, I’m doing everything I need to do.

Achievement two years after switching from violin to piano.

In a way, I felt similar to Anna Becker.

The classical music world has always felt like this.

There were no children who were not gifted, and there were no children who were not geniuses.

I heard that Baek So-yeon participated in the Baekwol Competition along with Lee Ha-eun.

And like Lee Ha-eun, she made it to the final round safely.

– Thanks to Soyeon, I feel a little at ease. We become dependent on each other.

“Good. By the way, are you the only one who did the ⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟ interview?”

– Ah… that’s it…

They say so.

After listening closely to the story, it seemed like Lee Ha-eun was attracting quite a bit of attention in Korea.

– Oh, I never said I was in the spotlight?

“I just asked because I thought so too. But I think I got it right.”

– Oh, no! No?

He said that reporter Choi Seon-young’s question of ‘Who is your friend?’ was handled brilliantly.

To me, Lee Ha-eun was someone who could never lie.

‘The way they speak changes.’

I also quietly asked about Ha-eun’s father.

Fortunately, he came to Korea to see us in person during the second stage of the finals.

It was a very good thing that he was returning to Canada after watching the final stage.

Even though Lee Ha-eun is slightly crying, she continues to smile.

Just hearing that voice made me feel proud.

We chatted lightly.

And we supported each other.

After finishing the phone call, I returned to the table where I was originally sitting.

Outdoor cafe.

It was the place where I was chatting with my German friends a little while ago.

“Mmmmm.”

As she sits down, Anna makes a strange noise.

Then he glares at me with a pouty face.

“Who are you talking to that makes you look so bright?”

“A friend in Korea.”

“······ friend? friend?”

Anna looked as if she had lost the world.

Lewis, who was next to me, saw that and laughed.

“then? “I thought Seojin didn’t have any friends in Korea?”

“······ Wasn’t it?”

“Seojin has a nice personality. Kind and friendly. Of course you have a lot of friends. is not it?”

“I just have a few friends.”

“How many? “Do you have that many friends?”

Anna complained why she was the only one who had no friends.

Our Louis kindly explained the reason, and Anna quickly sulked.

“These traitors!”

“It’s annoying.”

“Lewis, no matter what, you can’t say it in words.”

“why?”

“If this continues, I think Anna will cry.”

“Everyone was bad!”

Lewis and I drank sweet iced tea while looking at the small river flowing in Ettlingen. Anna ended up sipping iced tea too.

The Ettlingen Competition, with only the final round remaining.

In the final, we were playing a piano concerto, so we needed time to get in sync with the orchestra.

The 10 participants were scheduled to practice in order of performance.

As my last turn, I have not yet played with the orchestra.

Anna and Louis kept giving me tips.

“It is true that great seniors have come to help, but you must never be discouraged. The soloist in a concerto is on equal footing with the orchestra. You can’t forget that. okay?”

“The conductor sometimes asks me sharp questions, and I have to answer them well. “I think that’s where you gauge your skills.”

“Well… I think I completed the first practice without any problems. I also got compliments. “To the conductor.”

“Anna, what kind of compliment did you hear?”

“I like your performance~ Hmm. That’s where my field of expertise came from. “I guess I have the constitution of a concertina.”

“Everyone hears that much praise. “I heard you said I’m good at playing too?”

“······ Me, I was a little different!”

“what?”

“It felt different! the feeling is! “The sincerity has been conveyed!”

These two German friends were trying to give me some tips. I decided to think so. They’re bickering. Considering this age group, it’s inevitable. It’s quite fun to watch.

But then, a person passing by spoke to me.

An elderly grandmother.

He said he was impressed by my performance and praised it.

“Schumann was one of the greatest figures in Ettlingen history. “I had heard Schumann like that before when I was young, but it was the first time I felt such emotion in a long time.”

“Oh, thank you. But if you say you were young, it seems like you have been coming to see Ettlingen for a long time.”

“It’s been over 40 years, so it’s been a while, right?”

A grandmother smiling kindly.

Then he hands me a pamphlet.

“Could you please sign here?”

“What is the cause of death?”

“Of course, if possible.”

“······.”

Anna looks at me and opens her eyes wide.

He silently opens his mouth saying ‘Me?’

After thinking about it for a moment, I wrote my name in English.

Right now, there was nothing I could properly attribute to my cause of death.

“Thank you. “I’m looking forward to a great final performance.”

Grandma got the same autographs from Anna and Louis.

Anna said, “Hmm. Well… I’m the second, so I’ll skip it. “You’re not third like everyone else,” she teases Louise.

Lewis then showed a ceremony to delete Anna’s cell phone number, and Anna eventually declared surrender with tears in her eyes.

“Lewis was bad! “Why are you trying to delete my number!”

“Who the hell is bad?”

I looked for a moment at the path my grandmother passed.

As I progressed from Ettlingen to the finals, it seemed like the number of people who knew me was gradually increasing.

‘This time, ⌜Monthly Ensemble⌟ sent me a text message first.’

However, I wanted to focus more on Ettlingen now.

So I just replied that I would contact you later.

Many things were about to change.

Because of this Ettlingen Competition…

* * *

next day.

The day of the first practice with the orchestra.

I walked to Ettlingen Palace, the practice location.

You are given a total of three opportunities to practice.

It was a little disappointing, but I couldn’t help it.

A total of 10 participants advanced to the finals.

Participants only get a chance to practice three times, but the orchestra has to repeat the same performance a total of 30 times.

It was inevitable that it would put a burden on the orchestra.

Arrived at the scene 15 minutes before the appointed time.

There, a contest official welcomed us.

Provides simple instructions and precautions.

Professor Yuhan Kang also gave me some advice.

Arrived at the hall.

The huge doors of the palace opened and the sound of an orchestra was heard.

Violin, cello, viola, double bass.

Woodwind, brass, and percussion instrument players are practicing individually.

That moment.

The eyes of about 60 professional musicians are all focused on me.

Their murmuring soon stopped.

Beautiful eyes.

Among them, one person stood up.

I approached him.

And I silently held the hand he held out.

“It’s good that you came here. “It’s a child.”

Melodies of Dresden.

Max Richter.

His voice was very deep, and his hands were very rough after playing the violin for a long time.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Please take care of me, Master Richter. “My name is Seojin Han.”

“Han Seo-jin.”

“yes.”

“I won’t forget that name.”

After saying hello to the musician, I looked at the audience.

Some people sitting in the audience are quietly looking at me.

What I heard beforehand.

In order to check the true skills of the participants, I heard that famous musicians would be able to come and watch the practice in person starting from the finals.

Among them, there were so-called virtuoso musicians.

Pianist Chloe Laurent, who I am friends with, even waved at me slightly.

A man sitting at the end of the first row stood up.

Leon Hauser.

Chief conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

The conductor of the Gewandhaus, where Mendelssohn, a famous composer, was appointed as conductor…

I came here to help Ettlingen.

He smiled and greeted me.

“It was a great performance in the second round of the finals. “Let’s make the final stage well together.”

“yes. i look forward to. “Conductor.”

Conductor Hauser climbed onto the podium at once.

The oboe plays the note A and takes the lead in tuning the entire orchestra.

Each orchestra member begins to tune to the sound.

A slightly creepy situation.

After tuning their instruments, the Ettlingen members looked at the conductor and me alternately.

In the midst of these countless musicians, I calmly opened my mouth.

I explained my view of this concerto and my music.

This took quite some time.

Conductor Hauser’s baton, leading about 60 orchestra members, moved slowly.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor.

Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Emperor.

A song I’ve been preparing for several months.

The magnificent performance has finally begun.