Clap clap clap clap─!
Thunderous applause reached the ceiling of the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. The white-haired violinist, who had finished playing all the movements, walked up to the stage and bowed her head respectfully to the audience. Her performance was as elegant and classical as her nickname, the Queen of Strings. Some even shed tears during the aria on the G string. The eyes and ears of the audience were already captivated by her melody. The violinist exited the stage with her red dress fluttering like a rose.
"So, have you not received any contact from Korea?"
The white-haired violinist who came to the waiting room immediately went to see her manager. Although she was tired from the long recital, her eyes were shining brightly like a child. However, the manager slowly shook his head. As if he had not lived up to her expectations.
dripping.
At that moment, a man entered the waiting room with a knock on the door. The violinist, who saw the man's face, jumped up from his seat and showed his characteristically kind smile.
"You worked really hard today. I'm sorry I didn't pay enough attention to you."
It was the pianist who led the recital together. The man waved his hand and bowed his head deeply with a moved expression.
"No, sir. It was an honor for me to be able to play with Mr. Hirose. I feel like I have achieved the dream of my life, and my heart is still pounding."
It was no exaggeration.
Violinist with white hair, Hirose is a performer who has established herself as a world-class virtuoso beyond Japan. In particular, when her solo concert is held in Tokyo, it is said that audiences from Sapporo to Kagoshima move. Audiences who have heard Hirose's performance all say the same thing. She is the queen of strings and a witch. She steals the souls of the audience with a single melody.
"Oh, Jeong-Hoon, you're from Korea?"
For a moment, Hirose looked at pianist Baek Jeong-hoon. Baek Jeong-hoon nodded with a puzzled expression.
"Is there a violinist in Korea that I would like? Not an adult player, but a young one."
Baek Jeong-hoon's eyebrows furrowed. It was a habit that he developed when he was worried. Hirose was already a world-renowned violinist queen. She was also a next-generation pianist who was rising in the Korean classical music world, having won second place in the Chopin Competition, but she was still nothing compared to Hirose. Just thinking about it.
"Except for those who are already active in international symphonies, I don't think there is any performer in the junior division who can satisfy Professor Hirose."
It was true. Thinking back on the performers he knew, there had not been any outstanding talents from Korea, which could be called a wasteland of classical music. At that moment, Hirose's expression darkened considerably.
'Who on earth is it?'
Who on earth is this Kang Hyun kid that even Baek Jeong-hoon doesn't know? The content of the video sent by Jeil Group was surprising. This kid has never shown his face even once in an international competition. All he knew was that he was a member of a wealthy family, so Hirose was furious.
"Teacher, aren't you worrying too much about that kid? If you look around in Japan, there must be someone as skilled as that kid."
For a moment, Goro cautiously raised his voice. However, Hirose shook his head firmly. He thought that Goro's reaction was something he could say because he hadn't seen the video. If he hadn't seen the video, he wouldn't have done this.
"Therefore, that child is clearly different."
kid?
Baek Jeong-hoon turned his head slightly and looked at Goro-sang. But there was no way he could get an answer. What on earth could he be talking about?
*
"Oppa─!"
Son Yu-ha came running, carrying a violin case on her back with her small body. Her voice was full of excitement, as if she had done something. Why was her head suddenly starting to hurt? Son Yu-ha looked at her grandfather and sat down again, cautiously, like a young lady. If she hadn't been the third generation of a conglomerate, she would have been able to make her a child actor.
"Hyeon, the lady just happened to have prepared a musical instrument."
Spencer looked at me with an unflinching gaze. Chairman Wang and his grandfather also looked expectant. Son Yu-ha, who had become a young lady, had already prepared to listen with her posture raised. Was this how the violinists who played the violin in salons for the nobles felt? I was not particularly pleased with the sudden performance. However.
'I came from a very far away place.'
It was not that he had come all the way from England to see me, but that he was the famous conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. It was a ridiculous story considering Spencer's social status. Moreover, it was not that difficult to perform a single performance.
*
'Oh.'
When he took out a small violin and a long bow from the violin case, Spencer's eyes lit up. It was an instrument made of quite good wood. Just looking at it, it was probably made by a famous craftsman in Cremona. The price was also beyond imagination for a child to play. I wonder how skilled the player is.
"I will play just one song."
Spencer nodded at the assertion. It didn't seem arrogant. As a musician, it was understandable. Of course, even though he was young, he must know his worth as a violinist. Spencer's heart began to pound at the sight of his confident appearance.
At that moment the bow is raised,
Jiying.
The performance began with a single melody.
'Bach!'
Spencer glared and clenched his fists.
Chaconne from Bach's Partita No. 2.
A grand journey that begins without accompaniment. A series of breathtaking tremors and sorrows resonated as melodies through the bow. The fingers on the strings were carefully handling the notes as if they were caressing a child, but the harmony felt like several violins were playing at the same time. It felt like an accompaniment by an invisible pipe organ. I had heard the chaconne of the maestro Kremer in person, but the performance of the strings felt that much different.
Jiying.
It is cold, but the sadness hidden within it feels even more poignant. Is there a need to evaluate the technique? It was a chaconne that was already being played with my own interpretation beyond the score. The tone and rhythm have long since become the boy's own. That is not something that can be achieved through practice.
I felt like crying.
Spencer closed his eyes. But his ears continued to follow the melody. Oh, how could this be? Spencer's mind was swirling with countless emotions. As if denying the values he had thought of.
* * *
A wind blows through the garden. A cold wind that cools down the heated body.
A faint blush remained on Chairman Wang's face. His body had become accustomed to hiding his emotional changes throughout his life. However, as he listened to the child's performance, he felt a warm energy rising from deep within his body. I can say with certainty that this was the first time he had felt such emotions.
"You're truly amazing, Chairman Yoo."
A complex emotion flashed across the grandfather's face. He had been so flustered and surprised the other day that he had never been so completely absorbed in his grandson's performance. But it was far beyond what he had thought of as musical talent.
"Son-ga, I really don't know what to do with that kid anymore."
Even though I have been through many ups and downs for decades and lived through turbulent times, I still can't seem to figure it out. It's like I'm faced with a multiple choice problem with no answer. No matter which one I choose, I'm infinitely hesitant.
"Don't think too deeply about it."
Chairman Wang gave his friend sincere advice, because he knew better than anyone what his friend was worried about.
"Don't think of Hyun as being too young. In my opinion, he is a very smart child. He is capable of taking care of himself as well as Dong-ju."
At Chairman Wang's words, the grandfather finally began to see his grandson properly. At times, he seemed dignified enough to ask Dong-ju to take care of his future, but at other times, he seemed infinitely immature. However, as Chairman Wang had said, Hyun-i was different from other children. To the extent that he exceeded his expectations.
"There must be some meaning behind that child's choice that we don't know about."
A story that would have surprised others if they had heard it. A big shot in the business world acknowledging a 14-year-old child. At that moment, Chairman Wang's expression became subtle.
"Oh my, that guy got knocked over."
Chairman Wang nodded while making a short remark. Beyond his gaze, Son Yu-ha and Kang Hyun were playing together. While Kang Hyun was simply taking care of Son Yu-ha as if he were his younger sister, Son Yu-ha's gaze at Kang Hyun was unusual. It seemed no less intense than Juliet's gaze at Romeo.
*
It was on the plane back to England.
Spencer even refused to eat the in-flight meal to feel the aftertaste in his body. Even his favorite wine. Thinking about his performance still sent shivers through his body, so he didn't want to be disturbed by anything. It was a forced march that he couldn't stay in Korea even for a day because of the London concert schedule, but his whole body felt refreshed more than ever.
"Guest? If I was wrong, I was seriously wrong."
He had planned to bring him as a guest member of the London Symphony Orchestra and teach him under his tutelage. However, the moment he heard the boy's chaconne, he knew that he was already walking on the ocean. I don't know how much musical knowledge and experience he has, but I couldn't deny that he had already created his own outstanding music.
"I'm still sorry."
The boy's voice lingered in my ears like an echo. It was an answer I had never expected before coming to Korea. Was that why I felt bad? Not at all. Rather, I could understand it by looking at his deep eyes. The boy clearly understood his musical talent better than anyone else. No one could easily have that child.
How much time has passed?
Outside the window, the sky over London was visible. I had arrived already. I had not been able to get out of the lingering feeling for a long time. Spencer raised his long palm and stroked his face. For a moment, he felt his palm covered in wrinkles and calluses.
"Come to think of it."
When I first saw the child's white palms, I was shocked. There was not a single callus, as if he had never played the violin. It was only then that my values began to crumble. I thought that after Mozart, all prodigies were dead. But.
"Samuel, you were right."
Spencer smiled more cheerfully than ever.