The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 205



Only Noblemtl

205 Musicians of the Chapel

* * *

“Is it all done?”

I looked around the room slowly.

An empty desk.

A bed with neatly spread sheets.

A bathroom without any moisture.

It was just as it was when I first came to the Chapel Mansion.

I looked at my watch and it seemed like I had some time to spare.

So I opened the window wide.

A slightly lukewarm breeze, carrying the scent of the Chapelle Mansion gardens, touches my face.

The warm sunlight is shining down pleasantly.

Summer has arrived before we knew it.

The 14 days at Chapel passed quickly.

‘Come to think of it······. Was the time I spent on the deserted island about this long?’

In reality, regardless of the three and a half years I had been gone, to outsiders it seemed like I had only been missing for 15 days.

Around the same time.

But a completely different time.

That time passed by me once again.

I took a deep breath and stood in front of the grand piano for a moment.

And I put both hands on the keyboard.

‘Thank you for your hard work. I’m going to be bored for a long time.’

The Queen Elisabeth Competition rotates annually.

In that order: violin, piano, cello, and vocals.

It will be another four years before this child can play his part again.

I played a short piece without even sitting down at the piano bench.

With gratitude to Music Chapel.

I offer my greetings, however brief.

So, when the short performance of about 3 minutes ended.

“Schumann’s Children’s Scenes, ⌜Traumerei⌟. It’s a performance full of childlike innocence. It’s a piece that suits you, Seojin. It’s a piece that suits this place too.”

Yankovsky’s voice came from the entrance to the room.

I answered softly.

“I think I’ll miss this scenery someday.”

“The Music Chapel is such a mysterious and beautiful place. I will definitely miss it. But······.”

“It’s a place you can never return to. Ever.”

Yankovsky nods his head quietly.

“That might be why it’s more beautiful.”

“That’s right. It’s even more valuable because it has its own unique time.”

We paused for a moment.

It was because my gaze was caught by the warm breeze coming in through the window.

I looked at the silk curtains billowing in the wind and closed the piano keyboard lid.

Then he started tapping the piano.

We went straight down to the lobby.

It was almost time to leave, but I was the only one who didn’t show up in the lobby, so Yankowski came up to the room himself.

All the finalists for the contest were gathered in the lobby.

“Did you pack your clothes well?”

“yes.”

“You’re not leaving anything behind?”

“I took a good look at it.”

“Or······. Should I go to your room and check for you myself?”

“······.”

When I glared at Sister Lucas, Sister Lucas showed me both her hands.

“Ahem! I was just worried. It’s not because you’re young.”

“I guess that’s the reason?”

“Hey~ No way~”

“Honestly, my sister and I don’t have much of an age difference.”

“Seo Jin-ah. We’re five years apart, huh? When I was watching TV and drinking chocolate milk, you weren’t even in this world. Do you know that?”

“Ugh.”

I had a lot to say, but I couldn’t······.

Sister Lucas laughed heartily as she watched me standing still.

Then, as an apology, he hands me the last chocolate from Chapelle.

A short period of two weeks.

In the meantime, we became very close.

Mr. Debbe appears in the lobby and informs us that it is time to move.

We left the Chapel Mansion one by one, just as we had come.

I passed the forest path, passed the creaking gate, and got into the black vehicle that was waiting.

The car began to slowly pick up speed.

We continue to run on the bumpy dirt road.

The forest and dirt road soon disappeared from sight, and a comfortable, asphalted road appeared.

The mountains and fields gradually disappear.

Buildings that started to appear here and there are gradually getting taller.

The park where I busked and my regular waffle shop.

Royal palaces and quaint cathedrals.

As the view of Brussels came into view, my time, which had been at a standstill for 14 days, began to function properly.

Countless people were gathered around the Palais des Beaux-Arts, which can be said to be Belgium’s number one cultural and artistic space.

Everyone is wearing nice clothes and gathered in a spacious square, chatting with each other.

People looking forward to the performances by Chapelle’s musicians.

I too was really looking forward to the performance I would show them.

The traffic light changes.

The stopped car turns and enters the Palais des Beaux-Arts building.

Ten fingers began to wiggle naturally on my knee.

In keeping with this, a delicate melody enters my ears.

It didn’t take that long to get immersed.

I held the melody played by Beethoven tightly in both hands.

I entered the waiting room of the concert hall.

* * *

“Beethoven’s new piano sonata… Phew. I’m getting nervous for no reason.”

“It must be a great piece of work, right?”

“There is a story that Beethoven composed this piece just before his death. It is not certain, but it is assumed to be so.”

“Oh, that? You mean the story about the advisory group that Bashanov and Langwi participated in?”

“Yes, that’s right. They say it might be one of the best pieces among Beethoven’s piana sonatas.”

“That kid is giving a performance like that for the first time······.”

“That kid, he showed an overwhelming performance up until the semifinals. I think he’s trustworthy.”

“He was the youngest among the participants, but he was the best.”

“This Queen Elizabeth could truly be a competition for the ages.”

“That’s exactly what we’re looking forward to.”

People entering the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall one by one.

Their conversation made it easy to see how much attention today’s competition was receiving.

A child who is receiving a lot of attention from the general public, not to mention classical music lovers.

Han Seo-jin is currently the most notable pianist in Brussels.

At the age of 14, he premiered an unpublished Beethoven piece.

Even the chances of winning seem very high.

Even many critics praised Han Seo-jin’s performances in the first, second, and third preliminary rounds.

but.

If there are many people who praise you, it is natural that there will be many people who express opposing opinions.

“But. Even so, isn’t it problematic to have a ‘child’ perform the premiere of Beethoven’s work? There’s no need to do that when there are so many great performers.”

“That’s right. I know that kid is a good player, but he’s not comparable to the greats. It’s obvious who to choose between a kid who’s only played maybe ten concerts and a veteran player who’s played over a thousand concerts.”

“Tsk. Belgium is taking a risk. They’re risking their lives promoting Queen Elizabeth this year.”

“Did you really have to use Beethoven’s music like that?”

“It’s a shame. What if that kid, who was the first performer, couldn’t finish the song in Chapel······?”

“Ugh. This is terrible.”

“Honestly, it could be that the child has done well so far because he met a good teacher. There are many cases where teachers interpret things on behalf of their students.”

“If we play bad music on stage this time, it will all be exposed.”

“Ha. I told you, the classic version isn’t that great either.”

“That’s how it is.”

People who make assumptions.

Meanwhile, the masters of the classical world who took time out of their busy schedules to come to Brussels were generally looking at this situation with joy.

Poland’s Michał Payans, known as the master of masters, talks to up-and-coming musicians.

“Hahaha. Isn’t this performer already showing off his skills in Brussels? Even if he makes a few mistakes, what’s the big deal? If I were to premiere an unpublished score, I’d definitely make mistakes.”

“But······. If so, wouldn’t it have been better if Jankovsky, Lucas, or your disciple Turner had played the ⌜Piano Sonata No. 33⌟? I’m really worried.”

“Music always blossoms brilliantly in unexpected places. Turner is still a child and cannot do it, and Jankovsky has to control his inner anxiety. And even Lucas is not perfect. Rather, he is the most suitable premiere.”

“······Is that so?”

“Yes. If the child I’m seeing is real, he’ll definitely show me something like that. Let’s look forward to it.”

“Huh. If that’s what Mr. Payans said, then that must be it. I understand. I’ll look forward to it with a little more ease.”

“Haha. Okay. Then let’s go in and take a look.”

People rushing through the lobby of the Beaux-Arts Concert Hall and into the concert hall.

On the contrary, there were also those who were busy greeting people in the lobby.

Kang Yoo-han welcomed Leon Hauser, Hoffmann’s junior, along with his long-time friend Hoffmann.

The conductor who performed ⌜Emperor⌟ with Han Seo-jin at the Ettlingen Competition.

Leon Hauser, the owner of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, greeted them warmly.

“Teachers, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Kang Yu-han receives his greeting first.

“I’m so healthy, it’s a problem.”

“Haha. Is that so? Then how about performing with the Gewandhaus next time?”

“If I get the chance, I’m glad to see that Conductor Hauser looks healthy too.”

“Thank you for your words. Then I will not forget those words.”

Kang Yoo-han had a light conversation with Leon Hauser.

Hoffmann then shakes hands with Hauser.

“Leon. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule. I heard you were conducting until yesterday.”

“Yes, sir. I played Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. That’s why I got on a plane this morning and rushed to Brussels. I thought I would regret it for the rest of my life if I missed that child’s final performance.”

Hoffmann has a faint smile on his face.

“I guess you’re looking forward to that kid’s performance too.”

“I was the one who watched the child’s ⌜Emperor⌟ right next to him. At the time, I was surprised, but in the meantime, the child seemed to have grown into a young boy. So I thought I had to see it for myself before it was too late.”

“Yeah. Welcome.”

After a while, the young French maestro Laurent and Max Richter, known as the Melody of Dresden, appeared in the lobby.

These people can be said to be the greatest musicians of this era.

Their sudden appearance kept the eyes of classical music lovers turning in their direction.

“How many masters are there?”

“It’s the premiere of an unpublished Beethoven piece. It’s bound to attract attention.”

“I think that kid gets a lot of attention too?”

“Han Seo-jin? You’ve done well so far. Of course, today will be the day that your true skills will be judged.”

A child who has been making music alone in a music chapel that can be called a silent museum.

Today’s competition will determine whether he will show his true colors by demonstrating his genius or whether he will just be a ‘passing performer’.

Chloe Laurent listened intently to the whispers of others and then spoke to Kang Yuhan.

“I think some people think that Seo Jin-i’s unique interpretation came from pianist Kang Yoo-han. I hear a lot of people worrying about that.”

Kang Yu-han smiled kindly.

“You could think that way. If I hadn’t seen that child up close, I wouldn’t have believed it so easily. That’s why I think the Queen Elisabeth Competition was the right choice.”

“Because of Music Chapel?”

Kang Yu-han nods his head to Laurent’s question.

“That’s right. Isn’t the Queen Elisabeth competition the most objectively evaluated competition? I think you, Laurent Jane, who won here, would know better.”

Chloe Laurent, who entered the Music Chapel like that child about 20 years ago.

Laurent closed his eyes for a moment and thought back to that time, then opened them and answered.

“It’s an indescribably objective place. It’s a place where I can look at myself objectively from my surroundings and from myself.”

“Heh heh. It’s like you’re saying that place is a mysterious place.”

“That’s true. That’s why I always tell the kids I teach to enter the Queen Elisabeth Competition.”

“Like Sylvie Lucas?”

“Yes. That child too······. I hope a lot of things have changed. Because living in this world requires a stronger inner self.”

Laurent absentmindedly looks towards the concert hall.

She smiled broadly, exchanged greetings with the other masters, and then entered the concert hall first.

The concert hall was already full of people.

With about 30 minutes left until the competition began, competition advisors Bashanov and Lang Yu came up on stage first to briefly explain the piece.

This was absolutely necessary, as it was the day of the premiere of Beethoven’s unpublished piece.

They greeted the audience after briefly explaining the composition background and points of appreciation of ⌜Piano Sonata No. 33⌟, which Brussels is currently guessing.

and.

This scene was broadcast as is on ⌜Queen Elisabeth⌟, a Belgian national television program.

A contest that is broadcast live around the world.

As expected from one of the world’s top three piano competitions, its scale was enormous.

Time passed quickly.

A small bell rings through the speakers in the Beaux-Arts concert hall.

It means there are 10 minutes left until the competition starts.

If we just wait a little longer, the boy will come up on stage.

The audience swallowed their saliva in anticipation, and some even flipped through the pamphlets, trying to figure out what kind of performer the boy was.

Critics, reporters, and judges rolled their ballpoint pens and stared intently at the empty stage.

Russian master Bashanov and Taiwanese master Lang Yu continued their conversation about Beethoven and the boy in the Beaux-Arts studio.

And the numerous masters sitting in the audience······.

They quietly looked at the waiting room where the boy was going to appear with different, different eyes.

The room gradually began to become quiet.

We show our respect to the pianist who gave an overwhelming performance in the previous competition.

A concert hall filled with tranquility.

In the still silence where not even the sound of clothes rustling can be heard.

Only the electronic clock installed on one side of the stage was blinking······.

It reminds the audience that time is passing.

Once per second.

Sixty times a minute.

Slow time passed without error.

at that time.

In the waiting room of the concert hall, a small whisper broke the silence and woke the boy.

The contest officials said there were 3 minutes left until the start.

The boy is very slow.

I opened my eyes slowly.

The innocence that a boy would have had gradually faded away.

The sadness that had been consumed by pain and suffering also faded away.

The boy······.

I began to look at things with deeper and deeper eyes.

It was as if it resembled the gaze of a master who had been making music for decades.

The boy’s eyes looked very calm.

The boy mutters softly, barely audible.

“Does it have to be that way?”

He repeated it again.

“It has to be that way.”

The boy got up from his seat.

Then, he slowly releases the hands he was holding tightly.

Without anyone noticing······.

The boy wanted to make a change.

The contest officials were a little surprised by the boy’s larger height than they had thought, even though they thought he was just a child.

The boy smiled faintly as he looked at the contest officials.

Then he checks his watch and turns around.

Jankowski, Lucas, and Turner.

Today, the contestants were sitting in the waiting room in the order of the competition.

After greeting them, the boy wanted to go out on stage.

At the boy’s request, the contest officials immediately open the door.

The bright lights of the stage penetrate directly into the waiting room.

A myriad of lights illuminate a single pianist.

However, it highlights one musician.

The boy······.

Towards that light.

I took a big step forward.