Chapter 39

039. Shin Dong (2)

The young protagonist realizes his musical talent.

And like any other talented individuals, he seeks the fastest path and advances even more quickly on that path.

The young protagonist's gentle song gradually becomes more passionate, as if pouring out the sorrow and suppression he has felt over the years,

and finally, as an adult, he shows explosive vocal power, and the scene ends.

Even though it was a simple sketch, closer to a comic strip,

perhaps because it was so detailed,

the inspiration I felt was more refined from the moment it arose. I knew what kind of music it should be, and the atmosphere was clear.

Thus, deciding which instruments were needed was not difficult.

‘I heard that Wolfgang Amadeus often used this method.’

I got to know him through Haydn's introduction, and by the time I started sponsoring him, he was already in poor health.

He often spent the whole day in bed, so he had someone draw the sheet music for him while he worked.

Therefore, he had to play and compose music in his head without any instruments, and as this experience accumulated, by the end of his life, he could list the necessary instruments as soon as he received a composition request.

He was also creating the opera "The Magic Flute" at the time, so it probably felt similar, didn't it?

When I had such thoughts, all the instruments needed for this scene were already ready to play in my head.

It seemed that I just needed to perform the musical ideas I received from the storyboard,

but I felt blocked and turned to look at Director Park Dongjin.

I swallowed my disappointment and said,

“I can't decide on the voice. I don't know who will sing it.”

“······Huh? Oh, right.”

Director Park Dongjin, who had been staring with his mouth open, swallowed and let out a hollow laugh.

“We need to start casting soon. The storyboard is almost complete. So, um, anyway······ will you be in charge of the OST?”

His eyes were filled with expectation.

The moment I saw the storyboard, inspiration flooded my mind, and my brain had already started working, but I still pondered for a moment.

I already have a mountain of tasks with the concerto preparation and composition.

But then again···

‘If I already have a mountain of tasks, adding one more won't make much of a difference, will it?’

Feeling optimistic, I smiled and nodded.

“Yes. But I have one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Let me participate in the casting of the main character.”

Choosing the final instrument is a task I can't delegate to others.

#

Director Park Dongjin readily agreed to Han Seoho's condition.

It's only natural that the person who will create the OST should be involved in choosing the singer.

Of course, he would also need to consider acting skills and box office appeal, but that's his part.

He tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking that he needed to choose an actor who balanced all three aspects.

In Yooncharter, Han Seoho had only composed one piece, and that was a piano piece.

But this time, he's taking charge of the OST for "The Boy Who Became a Wolf."

Despite this, his sense of anticipation only grew, not his anxiety.

······Ah, gee!

Representative Kim Gwanwoo, who had taken a seat in the room, grimaced and said,

“Still, Sound Film has turned a crisis into an opportunity. With SJ's funding, the company has grown significantly, and with SJ producing films, there will be no shortage of work.”

“So, I reserved Seoho early. From what I heard, he's busy with the concerto and other things, but if requests start pouring in, it will be hard to get a piece from him.”

“······Good job.”

Representative Kim Gwanwoo's reaction surprised Director Park Dongjin.

If things had gone as usual, he would have said, "Whoever you give it to, film music is all the same!" or "Still, it's a bit much to entrust all the music to such a young kid!"

“You're lucky. How did SJ Entertainment manage to save a struggling company? How about I try to stumble a bit too?”

“You'll end up with a broken nose.”

“Tsk···.”

Representative Kim Gwanwoo, touching his nose for no reason, leaned back on the sofa and looked at the calendar on the wall.

“Then, we should start casting soon?”

“Yes, we should.”

Director Park Dongjin answered with a determined expression, vowing to select the perfect actor. Just then, an employee opened the door and peeked in.

“Director, Monthly Audience called.”

“Monthly Audience? A magazine? I've never heard of it.”

As Representative Kim Gwanwoo, who had been lounging, tilted his head, Director Park Dongjin stood up and said,

“It's a classical music magazine.”

“I see······”

“What's it about?”

“They said they're doing a feature and want to interview you.”

“Really?”

While Director Park Dongjin was talking to the employee,

Representative Kim Gwanwoo, from behind, put another mint in his mouth and chewed, muttering,

“This is definitely a film, but why do I keep getting more calls from that side?”

#

A few days later.

Monthly Audience office.

After finishing an early morning interview with Director Park Dongjin, reporter Choi Sung-ryeong entered the office and waved.

The reporters, busy typing, gradually acknowledged her greeting.

“Phew. Man, can't they give me a lighter laptop? This one is so heavy.”

She put her bag down at her desk, massaged her arms, and turned to her colleague.

Her colleague was frantically handling a laptop that looked even heavier.

“Where are you going?”

“To get an interview.”

“Who with?”

“Kim Se-jin.”

The name of the prodigy who had been called a piano genius since the age of 10 and was considered the hope of Korean classical music made her exclaim, “Oh!”

He was called the next Lim Jin-gyu, but now everyone expects even more from him, and even the general public, who are not familiar with classical music, know his name.

“What's up with him?”

“Nothing specific······It's what everyone expected and hoped for.”

“What's so grand about it?”

“It is. Kim Se-jin is turning 16 this year.”

At this, Choi Sung-ryeong froze.

Turning 16 is a significant milestone for classical performers.

Most international competitions have an age limit of 16 and above.

“······So!”

“He plans to participate in the Tchaikovsky Competition this time.”

“Wow, that's really exciting.”

“Exactly. I'm already getting excited. Everyone seems to expect at least a prize······Anyway, I need to go. Good luck!”

“Yeah! Tell him Monthly Audience's Choi Sung-ryeong is a fan!”

Watching her colleague dash off, Choi Sung-ryeong plopped into her seat.

She took out her laptop from her bag, shaking her head.

Kim Se-jin, who had never missed the top two spots in junior competitions,

even won the Chopin Junior Competition last year, receiving the public's high expectations.

To classical music enthusiasts, Kim Se-jin was already a national representative.

He will start participating in various international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky Competition, and will undoubtedly reach the stage of the Chopin Competition, which is a dream for pianists.

We'll have to wait and see what level of skill he will show,

but based on what he has shown so far, it's definitely worth looking forward to.

“Wow······I'm getting goosebumps.”

Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Choi Sung-ryeong opened her laptop.

She calmed her excitement and began compiling the interviews she had conducted over the past few weeks.

Han Seoho. 18 years old (16 years old in terms of age).

- Art Center Piano Prodigy Education Program.

- Composed 4 important scenes for the OST of "The Boy Who Became a Wolf."

- Composed 1 important scene for "Yooncharter."

- Stand-in for the main character's piano scenes in "Yooncharter."

This much was already known.

And from here on, it's new information.

But, it's a bit strange.

-SJ Cultural Foundation's "Night of Patrons" event······Why a violin? Strange.

-When pianist Lim Jin-gyu came to Korea, he mentioned the future of Korean classical music in an interview······Everyone thought he was talking about Kim Se-jin, but suddenly he mentioned film music. Something's off.

-At the time, the interpreter said that Maestro Pavel came to Korea for Han Seoho······This is also strange.

-Strange. Strange. Strange. Strange······.

Choi Sung-ryeong, typing the information, took her hands off the keyboard and wore an expression of disbelief.

“How can it get more and more mysterious the more I dig?”

There was no one left to dig into.

······Except for himself.

#

After finishing his piano practice, he lay down on the sofa.

The company was busy preparing to move, so he decided to stay at home for a while. Not much would change.

Piano and violin practice.

And composition.

Repeat.

“Should I take a break?”

He stretched his sore fingers and put on his earphones.

His lips naturally curled up.

Making music this way is also fulfilling, but listening to music is still enjoyable.

Especially, the moment of deciding what song to listen to!

He planned to take a 10-minute break and carefully scanned the list. Then, he suddenly remembered the movie "Soprano" he was working on and searched for opera songs.

His finger moved involuntarily to the top name that appeared.

The music started.

The sound of the orchestra burst out simultaneously.

The strings, piccolo, flute, oboe, horn, bassoon······.

The instruments used flashed through his mind for a moment, and then the true instrument of this piece began to flow.

The coloratura soprano, appearing with an incredible high note from the start.

The Queen of the Night's second aria, which only three sopranos in the world can properly sing.

The motif that follows is a well-known part, even to me before I remembered my past life.

And I had actually heard this music in that era.

In a very small theater, despite the composer's fame.

Together with people of various ages, genders, and classes.

This piece, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus,

the legendary Mozart in his later years.

Mozart's letter, filled with joy at the completion of a piece he would love even after death.

I headed to the opera house with high expectations.

And I was shocked.

What dominated the stage was neither an outstanding pianist nor a splendid orchestra.

Only one soprano.

The high notes that burst from her mouth were clearer than a flute, more intense than a horn, and heavier than a bassoon.

Now I understand why Mozart was so elated in his letter.

And.

He left the world a few months after this piece.

Leaving behind a piece he would love even after death, perhaps it was fortunate.

Did he know he was going to die soon?

That's how Wolfgang,

whom I supported most passionately,

became the musician I sponsored for the shortest time.

“······.”

Meanwhile, the Queen of the Night's aria reached its climax.

The voice, expressing anger towards the other actor, hit the high C four octaves above middle C in succession.

I know how much Mozart agonized over the role of the Queen of the Night.

He always thought, “The Queen of the Night must have this kind of voice” before going to bed.

Although it wasn't as impressive as the actual performance, I still felt a chill and took off my earphones.

And I imagine.

What kind of