The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 149



Only Noblemtl

149 Alone for everyone

* * *

Esplanade is a state-of-the-art performance hall.

So, although it does not boast a long history and tradition like other European performance halls, it was built using modern acoustic design, so you can hear a fairly uniform sound from any seat.

However, this does not mean that there are no suitable seats.

For example, in the case of a pianist’s performance, seats on the left side of the stage are usually popular.

In these seats, you can directly see the pianist’s hands while listening to the performance, so many audiences who are interested in performances often make reservations.

Meanwhile, in the center of the first floor or the front row of the second floor, the piano sound can be heard relatively more clearly, so it is preferred by audiences who focus on the music itself.

The audience sat in the central front seats on the first floor, which are seats that pay more attention to sound.

They were looking at the pamphlet with great anticipation.

“What kind of performance are you going to show me?”

“I know. All of the performance programs look difficult. “Is it possible for someone at that age to express their emotions properly in these songs?”

“It seems difficult, but… “You will know when you see it for yourself.”

“Honestly, today is meaningful just because that child came back to Singapore. “That alone is a meaningful performance.”

“but······. Most people are more interested in being a ‘child of hope’. “Take a look.”

As one student spoke, other students took a quick look inside the performance hall.

Even though there is a long time left until the start of the performance, the auditorium is already full.

If you listened carefully, you could easily hear the audience talking about ‘Child of Hope’.

A female student who was observing the audience’s reaction asked a question to the professor.

“But that child, no matter how much he is called a ‘child of hope,’ isn’t it true that he has great skills now? The same goes for Ettlingen and Carnegie Hall. The response from critics was also amazing.”

A man in his late 50s.

Daniel Huber, a professor at the Yong Shuto College of Music at the National University of Singapore, nodded.

“It’s true that the child has already been verified. “In Singapore, the image of a ‘child of hope’ is so strong, but in places like the US and Germany, people are already calling him a genius.”

“Yes? When I watched the CNN interview performance video, it was no joke. I am······. “I don’t think I could have played ⌜Mirror⌟ to that level.”

“It was really amazing.”

“So you must have given a recital at Carnegie Hall. The same goes for signing a contract with ⌜Schmid⌟.”

Friends who immediately respond to what the female student says.

Professor Hoover, who was looking at that scene, smiled slightly.

Today, I came to see the performance of ‘Child of Hope’ with students from Yongshuto College of Music.

To celebrate the end of the school year and to celebrate the end and beginning of the year.

And Yongshuto Music College and that kid had a bit of a connection.

“I heard that kid was originally supposed to take a master class at our school.”

“that’s right. That’s what led to the AC2505 accident. “I almost got in big trouble.”

“You said it was fortunate that all the passengers survived?”

“By the way, if it was a master class, which professor did you decide to take the class from?”

The rest of the students burst into laughter at the last student’s question.

How on earth was he doing at school that he didn’t even know about such rumors?

Seeing as he didn’t notice even though he came with the ‘participant’ professor, I was wondering if he was a spy from another school.

“Ah, that was Professor Hoover…”

The professor directly responded to the student’s words.

“okay. In the end, the master class fell apart.”

A competition held in Korea as part of music exchange among youth around the world.

The student who came in third place there was supposed to come to Yongshuto College of Music, but things took an unexpected turn.

AC2505 Accident.

A child who became a ‘child of hope’.

The child returned to Korea after receiving treatment at a Singapore hospital, and contact was lost after that.

‘I was worried about how you were doing…’

The child, who had already become a pianist, set foot in Singapore on his own.

Confidently, while receiving everyone’s attention.

It felt very surprising and unique.

“But when I come back here again, it seems like the power of fate is scary.”

“yes? “What did you say?”

A fellow professor sitting next to Professor Hoover turns his head.

“no. I’m just curious. What kind of stage will you show? And how much my skills have improved since then.”

“Ah, back then, Professor Hoover watched that kid’s competition video and judged it, right?”

“It was as if I had called this place Yongshuto. But then such an accident happened… “My mind is still a mess.”

Professor Huber recalled the video of the child’s performance that had been received for evaluation at the competition.

‘There was definitely a lot of passion.’

A child who had no clue about direction.

That’s why I wanted to help, but I had a strange feeling looking at the child who seemed to have already found his place.

A fellow professor asks.

“But wouldn’t it have been better if that child had come to Professor Hoover at that time? I think the professor must have taught me a lot as he was paying close attention to that child. “He could have been like a teacher and a student.”

“well.”

Professor Hoover believes in fate.

He shook his head.

“Maybe he wasn’t meant to meet me. So, even if that child came to me, he wouldn’t have become a priest. “I think I’m not good enough or that kid couldn’t open his heart.”

“haha. You’re saying something difficult again. But Professor Hoover is not good enough? What?”

“It just occurred to me. I also watched the video of that kid playing CNN. And last summer, I also saw a video of the competition where that kid won third place in Korea. It seemed like the child had been through some upheaval. “I didn’t think I could make that much of a difference.”

“Uhm. is that so?”

“yes. So, it would have been more ‘fated’ for that child not to have met me.”

“Something is difficult…”

“In the first place, it is not easy to understand this world.”

Professor Hoover quietly looks at the empty stage.

Since there was still time until the performance started, I was able to lose myself in thought for a moment.

Meanwhile, a slightly brighter atmosphere continued on the second floor of the concert hall.

Park Ha-sun came from Korea to Singapore to see Seo Jin-i perform.

Yesterday, when the ‘Saebom Piano Academy’ winter break began, she came to Singapore in a hurry and was talking with Song Ye-in, who had been a friend since she was a student at Korea University.

With Song Ye-in, Han Seo-jin’s mother.

“When did Seojin grow up like that? Standing on such a big stage. Of course, I’ve never been on a stage this big before. Now that I think about it, there’s no comparison, right?”

“Tsk tsk. This guy. “Why do you need to say something like that?”

“just. I felt somewhat proud and satisfied. I feel like Seojin made my dream come true for me. So, I’m thankful to you for no reason.”

“Honestly, Ha-seon, it was thanks to you that Seo-jin fell in love with the piano. “For that alone, I am grateful.”

“no. no. Seojin did a good job for herself. “I was just cheering from the side.”

After listening to Park Ha-seon, Kang Yu-han answers on her behalf.

“Haseon. That alone played a sufficient role. “Because that child needed time.”

“Time?”

“It’s time to realize your own musical talent. That kid ended up doing it. I’m not sure what prompted the child, but he continued to pursue music until he reached that stage on his own. Ha-seon. “You did well.”

“······.”

“The professor is right. You are Seojin’s first piano teacher. Come to think of it, today is the first time all of Seojin’s piano teachers came to see the performance, right? I think Seojin will like it too.”

Teacher Park Ha-seon and Professor Kang Yu-han smile after listening to Song Ye-in.

Park Ha-sun continued speaking while looking at the stage.

“Whew. More than that, I don’t know why I’m so nervous. “Is it because it’s my first time seeing Seojin stand on a big stage?”

“Oh, that’s right! “Because of your academy, I had no choice but to stay in Korea.”

“that’s right. Seojin… “I’m sure you’ll be nice to me, right?”

Park Ha-sun’s words ooze some concern.

Han Su-yeon, who was sitting next to her mother, was the first to confidently answer.

“Of course~ My brother is a really great pianist~”

Han Su-yeon presents a lemon candy to Park Ha-sun, telling her not to be nervous.

Thanks to this, they burst into laughter for a moment.

Meanwhile, seats on the left side of the first floor.

“how to do? “I’m so nervous!”

Lin was really making a fuss.

“little······. Please calm down.”

“How can Teacher Rong be so calm? What do you do if Seojin gets nervous while playing? “If you make a mistake…”

When Rong heard that, he burst into laughter.

“Teacher Lin also said he saw the CNN performance video.”

“yes? “But why is that?”

“Not everyone can play at that level. “If a child can play like that, Mr. Lin will have nothing to worry about.”

Lin, who doesn’t know much about classical music, barely nodded.

“Whoa… If so, I’m glad. “Mr. Rong said you usually listen to classical music, right?”

“It’s one of my few hobbies. So, you can trust me to a certain extent.”

“is that so. But I didn’t expect so many people to come. The Esplanade is so full… “It’s not a joke, I think Seojin really was a star.”

Rin looks around.

Rong looked at the empty stage for a moment.

The child came to the hospital to say hello as soon as he arrived in Singapore.

The image of the child holding my hand tightly and saying thank you, and the ⌜Trouimerai⌟ performance that the child showed me in the hospital lobby at the time overlapped, and a touching feeling arose.

The reward you feel from your work.

I felt like I could feel it through that child.

Lin checked the time and called a concert official.

It was to do something I had asked for in advance of today’s performance.

Lin and Rong left their cell phones with the performance staff.

And he mentioned it one more time.

“If your alarm or phone rings, you must check and tell us. “The passwords have all been unlocked, so you will be able to see them easily.”

“yes. This is what I received from Director Kelly in advance. “You don’t have to worry.”

“all right. “Then I’ll ask you a favor.”

This is something I had told you in advance in case I received an ‘emergency call’ from the hospital.

In particular, since it was a performance where many medical staff and rescue teams were invited, Esplanade also checked this part in advance.

Lin said to Rong as he saw the concert staff going around collecting cell phones.

“I hope I don’t hear from you. Regardless of whether you watch the performance to the end… “I just hope there are no problems at the hospital.”

“I hope so too.”

While thinking about the hospital, Lynn suddenly remembered room 907 and thought of Emma.

‘Emma also said she wanted to see a big stage like this. She wished she could have come along. Next time…’

I prayed in my heart that I would be able to do that.

The emotions of people watching today’s performance were diverse.

Each of the 2,000 audience members had many thoughts.

The rescue team that came to see the performance after receiving an invitation remembered a person they had not been able to save last time.

The medical staff who came to see the performance after receiving an invitation also recalled the patients they had passed by.

Gratitude and excitement.

Sadness and regret.

Expectations and hopes.

People’s complex emotions fill the Esplanade.

Daniel Huber, a professor at the Yongsto School of Music, who was sitting in the front auditorium on the first floor, was looking closely at the information pamphlet.

Difficult program.

A song with a high level of difficulty.

but.

Select songs that show intent.

Hoover, who knows someone at the Esplanade, said he heard that the kid finished preparing for this performance in a very short period of time.

‘I understand what you mean, but…’

Hoover looked at the audience.

‘Can you really play like that in front of these people?’

The first song the child prepared was Liszt’s ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟.

A very calm and lyrical song that Liszt composed in his later years.

When Franz Liszt was young, he mainly composed gorgeous and virtuosic piano pieces under the influence of the violinist Paganini, who was called a virtuoso.

So people don’t know much about Liszt’s lyrical music.

Because Liszt’s gorgeous music, including ⌜La Campanella⌟, attracts more attention.

but.

truly difficult,

Truly brilliant,

A truly amazing song.

It is the same song as Liszt’s ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟, in which a person reflects on his life and tells his own story in an autobiographical way.

This work is said to be a masterpiece of Liszt’s later years.

Such a difficult song.

A song like this that even decent pianists find difficult to touch.

Can the child play correctly?

if so.

If you can do that.

‘What kind of performance are you going to show?’

The audience stands up from their seats all at once.

Even though the performance hadn’t started, people started cheering.

child of hope.

Even though the child only appeared on stage, people were giving him a standing ovation.

Professor Hoover stood up like them.

A child is seen wearing a tailcoat.

The child trudged to the middle of the stage and greeted people.

If it were a normal child, it might have blushed with excitement upon seeing this situation. The cheers from the audience were so great.

But that child looked very calm.

Spend time calmly looking at the audience.

The appearance of quietly gazing somewhere.

Professor Hoover turned his head to see the child’s eyes calm for a moment.

Because I was curious about where the child was looking.

However.

It was impossible to tell what the child was seeing because everyone was standing up.

Before I knew it, the child was sitting in front of the piano.

The audience also began to take their seats one by one.

The excited atmosphere of the concert hall calms down and silence comes.

The child stayed still.

Concentrate on this moment without moving a single inch.

Professor Hoover got a little goosebumps at that sight.

‘okay······.’

Sufficient time is needed to play Liszt’s ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟.

‘What kind of god resides in you?’

‘Or do you know true solitude?’

‘I’m going to think about it carefully.’

A piano piece composed by Liszt inspired by French poet Lamartine’s poem of the same name, ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟.

The beginning of this song clearly reveals Liszt’s lyricism.

It gradually reveals itself along with the child’s movements.

Franz Liszt – ⌜Bénédiction de dieu dans la solitude ⌟, S.173, No. 3

Franz Liszt – ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟, S.173, No. 3

A long theme melody.

Arpeggio (expanded chord) and trill sound types appear simultaneously.

A breathtakingly slow trill.

A well-maintained sound balance suggests tranquility.

l’accompagnamento sempre piano e armonioso (The accompaniment is always smooth and harmonious.)

Instructions from Franz Liszt.

And yet.

Even as the pianist maintains such peace and harmony.

The performer falls into deep agony.

Down there.

Deep, deeper.

Liszt, who devoted his entire life to music and religion, was only able to write this music in his later years…

That kid.

Without going through enough growth and maturity.

I am willing to express it here and now.

“······.”

Even though the music was playing very slowly, the child already had beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Are you tired?

‘Rather than that… ‘

That child seemed to want to express this music truthfully.

Liszt wrote the first stanza of Lamartine’s meditative poem ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟ at the very beginning of the score of this work.

The child was expressing poetry through performance.

Very slowly.

Slowly enough that you almost forget to breathe.

Recite Lamartine’s poetry on the piano.

⌜Where do I come from…

Where on earth did this peace in my heart come from?⌟

Anxiety hidden in beauty.

The sorrowful melody pierces my heart.

⌜For me, who was uncertain and uncertain.

I had this doubt about the waves being swept by the wind.⌟

Progress is so slow.

Slower than any pianist.

The child ponders the melody.

Notes and rests.

Even the space in between is made into music.

Even though there is nothing like the fancy techniques and techniques of Liszt’s early and middle period works.

Echoing from high above.

The sound shape of the right hand.

Expresses the sound of heaven.

A theme melody that moves across two octaves.

A faint and nostalgic melody.

That melody is somehow heartbreaking.

It quietly tightens my heart.

⌜In the dreams of wise people, seek goodness, seek truth.

Even with a heart that thunders like a storm.

I came to pursue peace.⌟

A descending melody.

The sounds of heaven come down to earth.

The semitone progression repeats endlessly.

An alto theme melody that reveals the human side.

Exhale quietly.

⌜The pain I faced in the past few days.

To me, it felt like a century and an era had passed.⌟

A chord that resonates in silence.

‘iced coffee.’

Professor Hoover finally found out.

This child…

It’s hard to believe, but this was a child who truly suffered.

The melody cries sadly in the upper part of the three chords.

Cry, cry, cry.

In this lonely place.

If God truly exists.

Why didn’t you give me your blessing?

I complain out loud.

no.

no.

Hoover was almost mistaken.

I am consumed by the sadness that comes out of the child’s performance.

I almost missed the entire music.

The child said.

He shouts with increasingly urgent notes.

My solitude…

Now truly…

It’s becoming a blessing.

The once calm scale jumps an octave,

It rises above 4 degrees,

sing of hope

Playing the heavenly sound once again.

From that high place.

⌜And it separated from the great abyss.

A new person is born again within me.⌟

Hoover chanted the last part of the first stanza of ⌜God’s Blessing in Solitude⌟.

‘Here’s a fresh start…’

⌜A fresh start from here.⌟

Hoover looked at the stage.

The child closed his eyes tightly.

Without saying a word, I was crying alone.

There is still a long time left to play.

A child playing a beautiful melody that seems like nothing in this world.

he is.

That pianist.

With all the audience here.

With people who aren’t here.

And for yourself.

Alone in the distant solitude…

He quietly began to play God’s blessing.

A very sublime piano melody…

It finally appears here.