The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 204



Only Noblemtl

204 Small Banquet

* * *

Music Chapel Lobby.

“Starting today, four people will rehearse at the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall each day and then return. They will move individually under the guidance of the competition officials, and the order will be from participant number 1······.”

Mr. Debbe continued his explanation.

The Queen Elisabeth Competition finals will be held over a total of three days.

On day one, all 12 finalists will perform a ‘designated piece’ designated by Brussels.

On the second and third days, six people each will perform the concerto they prepared.

In the case of the assigned piece, since it is a piano solo piece, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t rehearse.

A piano concerto involving a large orchestra absolutely requires rehearsal.

The pianist must convey his interpretation to the conductor, who then discusses the content with the concertmaster (the orchestra’s principal violinist), and the concertmaster coordinates the performance by communicating with the orchestra members.

The process of creating one harmony.

However, if there is one part here where the performers feel suffocated······.

That was such a short rehearsal time.

“As I mentioned before, the rehearsal time given to individual participants is 2 hours. Before the rehearsal, 30 minutes are given separately to consult with the conductor. This applies to all participants equally. There are no exceptions.”

Even in Ettlingen, the finalists were given a total of six hours of rehearsal time, but Queen Elisabeth did not allow even half that time.

Moreover, they did not even give us a chance to perform the ‘designated song’ in a concert hall.

While listening to the explanation of the headmaster, Sister Lucas whispered to me.

“In two hours······. Isn’t it true that you can only play properly once?”

“I guess so. I guess I can’t afford to be carefree.”

“I’m going to cry if it’s ‘time out’ before I can even coordinate with the orchestra.”

“I just hope that doesn’t happen.”

We started to concentrate on the words of our Master Debbe again.

The average playing time of a piano concerto is about 30 minutes.

Although the playing time may vary depending on the composer’s work and the pianist’s playing style, it does not deviate greatly from that framework.

So, let’s say you play with an orchestra at least once, from beginning to end.

All orchestral arrangements had to be completed within 60 to 90 minutes.

Therefore, in order to participate in a competition at the level of Queen Elisabeth, memorizing the score was also a prerequisite.

Only then can the performer express his opinion immediately.

First violin, second violin, cello, viola, double bass.

Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon.

Horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba.

And other percussion instruments, including timpani.

All the melodies of the orchestra must be in one’s head in order to create a concerto according to the pianist’s will in time.

Mr. Debbe, the headmaster, added one thing to this.

“For reference, in the case of world-class performers with busy schedules, they often rehearse for only 30 minutes to an hour on the day of the performance and then go straight into the performance. Our Queen Elizabeth aims to produce such performers. Performers who can create music without considering conditions or reasons. Only such performers will be able to receive the honor of the award.”

This tight schedule suggests that Brussels has its own intentions.

Even if Master Debbe had not specifically mentioned it, the twelve players here knew the reason very well, so no player complained, even if they did.

It couldn’t be otherwise, because all the participants here had memorized the score and were ready to converse with the orchestra at any time.

Twelve pianists selected from the world’s most prestigious competitions.

These people can create a concerto with just two hours of rehearsal.

Chappelle’s musicians were by no means easy performers.

“And I’ll say this again, if you’re caught using a cell phone or PC, it will be immediately considered cheating, so please keep this in mind.”

Mr. Debbe, the headmaster, told each participant how long they had to wait in the lobby, and I, number 1, was scheduled to be the first to go to the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall.

I keep thinking about Beethoven’s ⌜Piano Sonata No. 33⌟ and the situation where I have to complete a concerto with an orchestra.

There is no doubt that the Queen Elisabeth Competition is a competition with a murderous schedule.

“Seojin-ah! Let’s eat first! I’m hungry.”

what······.

But since it is a place where people live, eating is something that cannot be left out.

I followed Sister Lucas, who was walking briskly, to the restaurant.

The lunch box I ordered today was a bulgogi set meal.

As usual, I gave Sister Lucas some meat, and Sister Lucas gave me some potato gratin, saying she had prepared some extra yesterday.

Thanks to the microwave, the potato gratin was steaming hot.

Sister Lucas stared at me, waiting for me to take a bite.

“If you look at me like that, I’ll get sick.”

“Lies. You’re being too arrogant. You eat everything. Last time I saw you, you could even chew on rocks. I’ve never seen anyone tear open a baguette like that. It really felt like rocks.”

“······ Sister, a stone? It’s actually on a whole other level than the ‘taste of a stone’.”

“Heh heh. This kid. He’s talking weird again. Anyway, try it. He made it well, in the French style. It was delicious.”

“······.”

During my time at Music Chapel, Sister Lucas learned so much about me.

‘I was somewhat of a mystic, you know.’

I followed Sister Lucas’s recommendation and took a big spoonful of potato gratin, and as soon as I put it in my mouth and slurped it down a few times······.

I had no choice but to open my eyes wide.

Food that melts in your mouth.

After swallowing the gratin, I said to Sister Lucas.

“It’s so soft?”

“Right? How does it taste?”

“The cream sauce flavor is amazing. It goes perfectly with the potatoes. It’s on a whole other level than the gratin I’ve had at franchise restaurants so far. I guess traditional French food is the best.”

“Kuuuu! As expected from Seojin! You know how to eat. I asked the headmaster of the Dbe office last time, and he said that a French chef actually makes my lunch box. That’s why I like eating with you. Eat a lot. A lot.”

Sister Lucas kept smiling at me, and I ate a few more spoonfuls of gratin in the meantime.

Soon a few more people joined our table.

Among them, the person who was a bit unexpected was······.

“Can I sit down?”

“Of course. As much as you want.”

It was Oleg Yankovsky.

I thought he usually ate his lunch in his room, but today he sat across from me.

Sister Lucas looks at Jankowski and says a word.

“The gratin didn’t decrease.”

“Because it was a promise.”

“Okay. I’ll allow you to join. I can trust you.”

“That······. Thank you very much.”

“No problem.”

“······?”

There were two people having a strange conversation.

Sister Hyunju soon joined our table.

My older sister, Hyunju, who studied abroad in Italy for a long time, always drank espresso every morning.

I tried it a few times because the scent was good, but it wasn’t very good.

“It tastes good when you add sugar to it.”

“But the bitter taste doesn’t go away?”

“That’s why I prepared it. Okay.”

Sister Hyunju handed me a glass, and I nodded in agreement at the warm drink that had a sweet scent.

Hot chocolate.

Honestly, this was the truth.

A Japanese participant who doesn’t eat breakfast often, Reiko, joins our table to make matcha.

Participants from Poland and China also naturally find their place.

When I heard my older sister Lucas growling next to me, I realized it was Brian Turner loitering around our table.

Turner sits down on a chair.

I exchanged a quick greeting with him too.

These people have their own thoughts and their own stories.

Thanks to that, there were many participants who fought with each other at first, but in the end, they got along well because they had one huge thing in common: making music.

“Turner. Who wants to sit wherever they want?”

“Lucas. If someone saw you, they’d think you bought this table.”

“I didn’t buy it though. I rented it with Seojin, right?”

“what?”

“I rented a table for 10 euros, so you go there and eat by yourself. Got it?”

“What nonsense are you talking about again······.”

So-so.

‘So-so’.

After eating a quick breakfast and a French macaron as a snack, I went back to my room.

I thought about playing the piano for a little while, but then I gave up.

The remaining time is ambiguous.

I decided to use this time to look at sheet music.

The time to go to the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall for rehearsal soon approached.

I thought that Queen Elizabeth, who pursues thorough security, might wear a blindfold or mask······.

There was nothing special.

“And then you get arrested by the Human Rights Commission.”

“······You are right.”

However, while I was at the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall, I had to move around with two contest officials wherever I went.

Even when I go to the bathroom, we go together.

Brussels’ efforts to strictly prohibit the use of mobile phones and PCs and to prevent the leakage of sheet music were not without merit.

I followed the teacher, Deve, along the forest path that had become familiar to me.

When I first saw this forest, it felt a little eerie, but not anymore.

A place that provides shade to musicians, time and space to think, and a home for countless creatures.

The dark forest of Chapel seemed to be shining brightly on its own.

After walking along the road for a while, the gate of the Chapel came into view.

A huge gate.

As soon as Master Debbe manipulated a remote control, the gate began to open with a noise of metal rubbing against each other.

The inside of the chapel was dark because of the dense forest, but the outside of the chapel was very bright because of the long path.

Mr. Debbe, the headmaster, took the lead and went outside first.

When I reached the middle of the gate, I looked back for a moment.

A narrow path just wide enough for one person to walk comes into view.

When you leave this Music Chapel······.

It felt like time, which had stopped for me, was starting to flow again.

‘It was a very mysterious place.’

As I was absorbed in my thoughts for a moment, I heard the voice of the headmaster, Mr. Debbe.

He urges me, not in a hurry.

Only then did I take a step out of the castle.

The rehearsal was completed successfully.

The skills of the Belgian National Orchestra and its permanent conductor were overwhelming.

I talked about ‘my music’ in front of them, and they were happy to create the music I presented.

After returning to Chapel after rehearsal, time passed even faster.

As four people went out each day for three days, the atmosphere continued to be a bit chaotic.

Last night at the Music Chapel.

12 participants, we had a small party.

Sister Lucas ordered a cake as a representative, and the participants placed their lunch boxes on the table and shared it together.

Instead of playing the piano, I sang a song.

Instead of alcohol, I drank grape juice and apple juice.

Instead of regret, it left me with happy memories.

It is said that the Music Chapel was originally created for the exchange of performers.

A place to discuss music together and understand each other’s music.

When we look at the true meaning of Chapel, the Concours was an additional thing.

The last night I had a dream.

At first, it was a dream so vivid that I mistook it for reality, but from the middle of it, I realized that it was definitely a dream.

In the unbroken castle of Chapelle.

While countless people watched, their faces unrecognizable.

I put on my tuxedo and walked to the center of the stage.

There was a magnificent piano there.

An impressive upright piano with beautiful wooden decorations.

The broken piano that used to complain and grumble to me has returned to its original state.

I pressed the A note, which is the standard for all music.

The beautiful sound of the bells ringing out clearly fills the castle.

‘What a child with a good voice.’

‘so.’

‘Only in this dream······.’

‘I will release the resentment you have.’

I started playing right away.

A piano piece in a kind of fugue form.

A lyrical and beautiful melody repeats endlessly.

Beethoven’s last piano sonata.

That noble melody······.

It first resonated here in the Music Chapel.

A child shaking his body lightly.

A musician looking at the keyboard fiercely.

A man with his chin resting on his hand and smiling faintly.

Everyone listens to my music.

The Chateau de Chapelle was quiet.

Only one beautiful melody arose, and no one made a sound.

I was in that silence······.

After finishing the performance safely.

I slowly opened my eyes.

I don’t know why, though.

In my hands.

He was holding on tightly to the airline ticket that Mr. Miller had left behind.

I read the words he had written again.

– To my eternal friend Seojin. I hope you have a bright future ahead of you. –

The letters stand out clearly against the old airline ticket.

Today marks the beginning of the final round of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

I’ve done all the preparations.