Chapter 161

The magnificent song filled the theater’s music hall. Brilliant lights focused on the stage, highlighting the famous opera’s orchestra.

Dozens of people sat in neat rows. The small violin, medium violin, large violin… all pulled their bows; the small and medium trumpet, trombone, clarinet… they, too, all played together, and the forceful but not entirely solemn 《Ave Maria》 rose melodiously.

As an early representative of classical romanticism, 《Ave Maria》 was one of Schubert’s songs. The master was born in Vienna, the music capital, and achieved his life’s glory inside the city.

Many people knew Mozart’s life was short; he lived for only 35 years, but he left behind thousands of world-famous songs. Few people knew that Schubert lived——

For only 31 years.

In those very short 31 years, this grandmaster of music wrote over 600 songs, 18 operas, 10 symphonies, and more.

God was never fair. He preferred his beloved humans and devoted endless effort into geniuses such as Mozart and Schubert, letting them bring such heavenly music to the world, only to pity them and bring them back to heaven early.

And this 《Ave Maria》 had inherited the love the Vienna people had for the waltz. Its melody was gentle, like a mother gently touching her child’s cheek, delicate and soft; it was like the rocking of a small cradle.

The older audience of Palisade Theatre, who had listened to 《Ave Maria》 for over a decade, were naturally familiar with the song. They even understood that Wallace liked to insert a small piece with the first violin section at the end of the first part, and they also knew the female vocals were unique to the Palisade Theatre.

But this time, no one expected… the concertmaster would refuse to take his seat!

An older gentleman sitting in the front row pulled a face and looked through his thick glasses at the young man standing on stage, not playing his violin. He was gray-haired, and he had both the hands clasped on a cane in front of him. If anyone in the theater saw him, they would all exclaim, “Oh! Dear Mr. Delonte!”

Delonte was a loyal member of the Palisade Theatre’s audience, a born and bred Viennese. He started coming to the Palisade Theatre at his parents’ knee when he was four and had enjoyed their performances each week since then.

The older gentleman was in his 70s, and his body wasn’t fairing well. Even he didn’t know how many times he had come to the theater, but he was here now as an old man. His seniority even overtook that of Wallace’s.

And right now, Delonte’s eyes were fixed on the young man slightly to the left on the stage.

Over the past few months, the theater orchestra’s performances were quite good, but though he rarely saw the newly appointed concertmaster, Delonte couldn’t help feeling a bit suspicious about Qi Mu.

Such a young child, could he really serve as the Palisade’s concertmaster?

And now, this adaptation of 《Ave Maria》 made Delonte pay even more attention to the handsome young man. He wanted to see how capable this child who looked weak enough to tip over in the wind was, and what kind of 《Ave Maria》 he would produce!

Delonte’s gaze was scorching hot, but Qi Mu hardly noticed it. He listened carefully to every voice of the instruments behind him, from the subtle timpani furthest from him to the violins closest to him.

Wallace’s baton dipped, and with another slide of the string instruments’ strings, Qi Mu raised his hand and set his bow on his own. He looked up at Wallace beside him.

Encouragingly, Wallace looked down at him.

Suddenly, the clear, pleasant voice of his violin rang out!

At the appearance of the small violin’s sound, the audience was surprised as the vocals faded away and admired the voice of the concertmaster’s violin.

Light descended from above the clouds to bathe the earth in love, but beyond the brilliant voice, was a layer of pain. The repeated treble suppressed this pain and hid it behind optimism, bringing happiness.

The entire orchestra was accompanied by this beautiful sound. If the orchestra sounded like a child singing, the solo violin was like a gorgeous woman singing a beautiful song with the most charming smile on her lips as her arms reached out in a hug.

No matter how cold-blooded someone was, they couldn’t help being moved at this 《Ave Maria》.

This was the result of Schubert’s hard work. Though short, it made people happy.

This was the ensemble of the Palisade Theatre’s cheerful sound, which gave people the most unforgettable joy.

This was the young concertmaster standing at the forefront of the orchestra, performing such a wonderful and moving sound on his violin!

Below the stage, everyone was immersed in this beautiful fantasy, unable to draw themselves from it. Only Delonte, sitting in the front row, slowly loosened the edges of his frown and offered a small smile of praise.

No wonder the choir that had stood behind the orchestra for years suddenly disappeared… This violin’s voice was being used instead of vocals!

This adaptation was truly outstanding and very difficult!

The human voice wasn’t an instrument and easily displayed the ups and downs of emotion. An entire choir only expanded that a hundredfold, far from the simple effect of “1 + 1 = 2”.

But… this child’s violin was comparable to a choir!

Carefully listening to the music, Delonte nodded, his pupils trembling.

The orchestra grew too fast!

They used the most suitable music to play such a moving 《Ave Maria》 with their concertmaster! Such progress, Delonte hadn’t seen it in all his 70 years! This made him the only person to have changed the orchestra…

Delonte stared at the young man standing on stage. Was it because of him?!

If a concertmaster was skilled on his own, they could only be excellent. But if a concertmaster could change his entire orchestra, then he was extraordinary!

If this child really brought such change to the orchestra, Delonte wanted to keep the child there forever.

Unfortunately, he also knew such a good child needed a more powerful stage. There was only so much Palisade could give him——so Palisade couldn’t keep him.

But, Delonte smiled gently. This is fine, this is fine. This child had already given such a great start to this orchestra. Maybe a few years after he passed away, the theater would grow even better! It was a pity he may not see the day…

In the concert hall of the enthralling music, the orchestra played its final note, and the entire room fell quiet. Only the soft, gentle voice of the single violin stood at the forefront of the hall.

Like a spring breeze, it blew away everyone’s hearts.

When the moving melody finally ended, the audience remained shocked. With the help of his cane, only an old gentleman with a head of white hair sitting in front of the crowd stood and clapped. Shouting vigorously, he called, “Bravo!”

Immediately, roaring applause shook the roof!

Where the lights converged, Qi Mu and Conductor Wallace smiled and shook hands, bowing together to the audience. Even after Qi MU returned to his seat as concertmaster, the applause continued for five more minutes.

Though the applause had ceased, the audience was all the more excited.

Now they expected the orchestra to bring them a completely different performance compared to the prior years!

No one knew what effect the next 《Emperor Waltz》 would have!

If Schubert was the pride of Vienna, then the Strauss father and son were undoubtedly their most respected!

This 《Emperor Waltz》 by Johann Strauss II was the bedside music of many listeners. Even in Vienna’s cafes, restaurants, squares, churches… this beautiful waltz could be heard everywhere.

On stage, Wallace lifted his baton, and the familiar violin sounded.

Light notes roamed the concert hall, like children playing in the streets, and the audience couldn’t help raising the corners of their mouths. The active little ones waved their fists, clutching their rabbits.

After the prologue, the music’s seriousness gradually steepened, painting a magnificent scene for the audience. It brought everyone to medieval Europe hundreds of years earlier, with the great emperor waiting on his throne and young men and women across the country dancing in congratulations to him.

This was the most classic Vienna waltz, endless but lively, solemn but brisk, rich with the passion of Vienna’s people. It depicted the beautiful picture of the Austrian emperor taking the throne.

This was the music of their own Austrian people, and the audience smiled as they listened. Many even gently tapped out the melody on their armrests.

When the familiar song ended, they needed no leading to stand and applaud in unison, giving their joy and excitement to the fantastic orchestra!

If 《Ave Maria》 brought them unexpected surprises, this 《Emperor Waltz》 tempered their excitement and allowed them to calm for the last song.

On stage, after the applause of the audience, Qi Mu looked up at Wallace.

The youth’s finger pressed on his violin strings.

The audience held their breath as one. This was, yes——

《The Blue Danube》!