Chapter 41

041. Shin Dong (4)

"......You're really amazing, you know."

Even after the rehearsal ended and quite some time had passed, Chae I-yeon still had a dazed look on her face.

The admiring gaze that Han Se-kyung had until she had to leave in a hurry due to her schedule still lingered in her eyes.

"I just stood there with my mouth open after my part was over."

"I saw that. You were gawking."

She chuckled.

When Chae I-yeon gave me a sidelong glance and muttered, "I know...," I added,

"But it wasn't just you; everyone here was the same."

From the moment Chae I-yeon and Han Se-kyung's voices blended as if they were one person's,

Chae I-yeon's voice faded, and for a short moment, it felt like years had passed.

Until Han Se-kyung's voice, which had matured with talent, fully expressed the protagonist.

Everyone looked as if they had seen a scene from the movie they were about to film.

Chae I-yeon looked around and nodded.

"Anyway, Senior Han Se-kyung is really the best. She's an amazing actress, and her singing is unbelievable, really."

"She is impressive."

I was sincere about this.

How else could I have thought of writing a letter to Wolfgang?

Of course, she can't be compared to the coloratura soprano who could properly sing the Queen of the Night aria, which Wolfgang had discovered in the past.

Just as a wider range doesn't necessarily make a better instrument, in this movie, Han Se-kyung's voice was undoubtedly my best instrument.

"But, you can become like that too."

Chae I-yeon blinked at my casual remark.

Then, she smiled, her lips curling up, as if she had just realized it was a joke after being taken aback.

"Oh, come on."

But I wasn't joking.

"I think you can become even better than that."

"......Really?"

I was serious. And it was the truth. Chae I-yeon, who had become a successful actress and musical performer, had even gone to Cannes.

Although the future had already changed, I told her this to let her know that it was possible.

Chae I-yeon laughed in disbelief.

"Now I understand why Ho-ik always says you're strange."

"Shouldn't you be hearing that from Ho-ik?"

Chae I-yeon, who had been laughing for a while, suddenly became serious.

"I really want to do well in this movie."

I almost asked if she hadn't done well before, but I held back.

Her eyes were shining so brightly that it felt like a silly question.

......I was impressed by her and had a sudden thought.

The future has definitely changed,

but if the future is created by people rather than circumstances,

wouldn't Chae I-yeon inevitably become the same great person as before?

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I'm just looking forward to it."

I answered casually and turned my gaze away.

As my anticipation for Chae I-yeon's future grew, my own expectations also began to rise.

......How far can I go?

Instead of setting limits, I asked myself this question and looked out the window.

The gentle sunlight made me feel that the cold weather was gradually thawing.

Spring was approaching.

The video screening for the competition.

The video screening, which can be considered a preliminary round for the Tchaikovsky International Competition.

The content required for the video was simple.

It needed to be 30 minutes long, including one piece by Tchaikovsky.

I sat in my new studio and made a video call on my laptop.

Soon, Im Jin-gyu's face appeared.

-Oh, the studio looks really nice. You even have a separate recording booth this time?

"Yes, it's a bit bigger."

-Not just a bit! But it's much better. Honestly, your concert piano in the previous studio was too cramped.

That's true.

Now, it's so big that it could be called a recording studio, and the room system is well set up.

When I first saw the design, I thought it was too much, but my father firmly shook his head.

He said I wasn't a student working in a spare room at the company anymore.

'Well, since I announced I would release a classical album to Chairman Baek Han-gil......'

Thinking about preparing that after the competition, Im Jin-gyu brought up the main topic of the call.

-So, have you decided what you're going to play?

I nodded with a smile.

It wasn't easy. My head still hurts from making that decision.

Since I had to choose a Tchaikovsky piece, the limited options made it harder.

Im Jin-gyu's expression seemed to be asking me to explain, so I continued.

"I'm thinking of playing 'The Seasons' on the piano."

-Which month?

"March."

-You chose a very melancholic piece?

"I chose a piece that can fully convey the Russian atmosphere."

March in Russia is still a gloomy winter.

So, what could be more Russian than that?

After thinking for a moment, Im Jin-gyu seemed to conclude it was fine and moved on.

-And for the violin piece?

"I'm thinking of 'Scherzo à la Russe.'"

It's a piece characterized by changing keys.

Especially in the latter part, it transitions to a minor key, capturing both bright and gloomy moods in a violin concerto.

-You've chosen two pieces that are completely Russian in feel. Well, it's natural since they're Tchaikovsky pieces, but they seem particularly Russian.

"Yes, I want the other pieces to have a completely different feel."

The other pieces refer to the free-choice pieces, not Tchaikovsky's.

Im Jin-gyu slowly nodded.

-It's good to show a variety of feelings. So, what other pieces are you planning to play?

I smiled happily at his question.

This part was clear.

Pieces that encompass Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, and Bach......

"Classical pieces."

......Is it because I've been thinking about Wolfgang a lot lately?

After much deliberation over the classical pieces, I decided to play one of his piano sonatas and one of his violin sonatas.

Now that the pieces are decided, I just need to practice and record the video.

While planning the practice schedule and deciding when to record, my father entered the studio.

His face was more relaxed after the company's move.

It's a relief.

"How's the studio? Is it okay?"

"It's more than okay. It's the best."

My father, pleased by my enthusiastic response, sat down next to me.

After some small talk, he casually brought up a topic.

"A while ago, we received a request for an interview from a company."

I was relieved it wasn't something serious and replied.

"That's good. Articles can help the company, right?"

"That's true, but......the subject of the interview is Seo Ho, you."

"......?"

I was taken aback.

I thought it would be about the company, but being the subject was unexpected.

I hesitated and asked,

"From where?"

"It's Monthly Audience, the largest classical music magazine in the country. It's almost the only one."

Monthly Audience......

I had heard about this magazine from Director Park Dong-jin. He even mentioned that a journalist there was interested in me and might contact me soon. But I had forgotten about it since there was no contact afterward......

"What should I do?"

"Do you have to do an interview?"

"It's an interview, so of course, they want to interview you, and they also want to see you playing music."

After hearing my father's explanation, I thought for a moment.

The interview could help the company, and it would be good to have a journalist who knows me, especially since I'll be releasing a classical album soon.

Besides, even without the business aspect, a journalist from a music magazine must have met many musicians.

......We could have some interesting conversations.

There was no reason not to do it.

When I expressed my willingness to do the interview, my father nodded and asked,

"When would be convenient for you? They said they can come whenever you're available."

Hmm.

......They want to see me playing music?

If they're coming, I want to show them my best.

But usually, I just practice and sketch on sheet music.

And the soprano recording is confidential, so I can't show it......

Looking at my calendar, I said,

"I'm planning to record the video for the competition next week. That would be a good time."

#

Classical music has been in a state of decline, like a neglected statue, for several years.

However,

In the past few weeks, the industry has been buzzing as if it's in its heyday.

It all started when the piano prodigy Kim Se-jin announced his first entry into an international competition.

Opinions poured in, suggesting that he could not only win an award but even the championship based on his past performances.

Major media outlets, sensing the buzz, competed to publish articles, fueling the anticipation.

As a result, people who knew Kim Se-jin from various entertainment shows and those who remembered his victory in the Chopin Junior Competition last year began to show interest.

Thus, the competition, which was often seen as an exclusive event, started to attract more public attention.

Thanks to this, the office of Monthly Audience, which had been dormant for a long time, became active again.

"Someone said it perfectly. The reason classical music has declined in Korea is simply because it wasn't good enough. Now that someone like Kim Se-jin has emerged, interest is spreading like wildfire."

The journalist who could be considered the catalyst for this situation chuckled. He was sitting next to Choi Sung-ryeong, who had interviewed Kim Se-jin.

Choi Sung-ryeong, who had been looking at his watch as if waiting for something, said,

"It's like when a likely winner emerges in an unpopular Olympic event, suddenly drawing attention. Both the editor-in-chief and the CEO seem to be secretly hoping that if Kim Se-jin wins, classical music will rise again."

The intern journalist across from them, who had been watching their conversation, asked with a hint of hope,

"But it would be hard to return to the old days, right? In the past, even just placing in an international competition would make someone a hero when they returned......"

Choi Sung-ryeong checked the time again and replied,

"He would receive a hero's welcome. But would that bring back the popularity of classical music? It would be difficult for Kim Se-jin alone. We need another prodigy to sweep the competition, and we need to keep the fire burning to maintain people's interest."

With that, she shouldered her heavy bag and stood up.

The journalist next to her, who had been nodding in agreement, tilted his head.

"Where are you going?"

"To get an interview."

"With who?"

Choi Sung-ryeong smiled at the journalist looking up at her.

"I......I'm not sure myself."

"Huh? You're going to get an interview without knowing who it's with?"

Despite his puzzled expression, she looked genuinely unsure.

After a moment's thought, she said as she left the office,

"Maybe a second prodigy......"