Chapter 49

049. Final (1)

<Han Seoho, advancing to the final in both piano and violin!>

Han Seoho, a pianist and violinist who has gained much attention from the public for participating in the competition with two instruments, has secured a ticket to the final in the violin category after the piano, and will now perform on the stage of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.

...

Meanwhile, the list of finalists for the Tchaikovsky Competition was announced at 1 AM local time.

Among the 34 participants preparing for the final battle, including 7 pianists and 6 violinists,

Korean participants Kim Sejin in the piano category, Lee Jae-hyun in the vocal category, and Yang Hye-ryung in the cello category have also advanced to the final and are scheduled to perform on the Tchaikovsky final stage after a three-day practice period.

(Monthly Audience: Reporter Choi Sung-ryeong)

- Even though I know nothing about classical music, I feel proud. I support them!

- Me too. I suddenly want to learn more about classical music.

- My friends used to tease me for listening to classical music, but now they only talk about the performance videos they've seen. Haha.

└ Breaking News) A friend who learned up to Czerny 100 says Han Seoho has excellent expression, causing a stir.

└ Breaking News) Another friend who prefers Kim Sejin says he learned up to Baillot and was shocked to find out there's a lower volume.

- Wow, look at the comments. I've never seen a classical music article go to the main page so quickly, nor this many comments.

- I hope all four of them do well and bring glory to Korea.

- They're practically already winners. I hope they win the championship!

A student reading the article in a lecture room was amazed at the endless stream of comments.

"Unbelievable. I've seen many people become stars overnight, but I never thought something like this would happen in the classical music world."

"Unbelievable things do happen. If we compare it to the Olympics, it's like one athlete is about to challenge for gold in two events. How can you not be excited?"

They were piano students, and thus this situation was even more unfamiliar to them than to the general public.

For a competition to be talked about and even receive attention from the general public.

"Really amazing. By the way, I have to prepare for the final exams, but the final is right around the corner..."

The student seemed to be struggling with a great challenge, and the friend next to him also looked dejected, as if it wasn't just someone else's problem.

With the attention already focused on them by the general public, how much more so for classical music students?

It was a festival of excitement and envy.

Even now, the lecture room was filled with discussions about the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Among them, the most talked-about were Han Seoho and Kim Sejin.

Some were simply comparing their skills, while others were trying to apply unique aspects of their performances to their own playing.

Just then, the professor entered the lecture room.

"..."

The voices that had been bursting out like dialects from all over the room gradually subsided.

The professor, looking particularly tired, slowly walked across the lecture room and placed his laptop on the desk with a thud.

He then took off his glasses, placed them on top, and rubbed his eyes vigorously with his index and thumb.

"Phew, I'm so tired... How's everyone's final exam preparation going?"

No-.

As if they had rehearsed, all the students said the same thing at the same time.

The professor chuckled.

"Try to play the concerto a bit more precisely."

He put his glasses back on and continued.

"But, to be honest, I'm in the same boat. I have to make the final exam questions, but I can't concentrate..."

"Because of the Tchaikovsky Competition?"

A student asked a question. Laughter erupted from all over the room, and the professor also burst out laughing.

Nodding his head.

Then he suddenly grumbled with an angry face.

"No, why do they keep scheduling our country's participants in the evening? It's the middle of the night here."

Students strongly agreed.

The professor promised a grade higher than F to the student who suggested it was a trick by the organizers.

By 9:00 AM, it was time for the lecture to start.

The professor, who had been pondering for a moment, opened his laptop and spoke.

"While we're on the topic, shall we watch a short video of Han Seoho and Kim Sejin's second-round performances and discuss it?"

The professor, who had been exhausted, now had bright, sparkling eyes.

#

When I opened my eyes, sunlight was seeping through the curtains.

"......"

Like an office worker who wakes up late and feels a chill before realizing it's a holiday and lies down again,

I felt a moment of dizziness and pulled the blanket closer.

Swoosh-.

A book that had been resting on my stomach came up with the blanket.

<Tchaikovsky>

A book I had fallen asleep reading last night, with a strong biographical nature.

It contains his life, music, and the values embedded in them.

In fact, it was a book I had read several times while preparing for the competition.

I was going to participate in a competition named after him,

and I was mainly performing pieces he composed,

so it wouldn't make sense not to know him.

There were parts I 'especially' liked.

While thinking about the book report-like thoughts, I placed the book back on the shelf.

I turned on music on my phone and rolled around for a while before getting up, feeling hungry.

When I came out of my room, my mother was absorbed in her laptop in the living room.

Judging from the layout I could see, she was clearly checking internet articles and comments.

"Mom."

"Oh, you're up?"

My mother smiled widely.

I approached, rubbing my stomach.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"A little? Shall we go eat?"

That 'a little' was actually more of a euphemism, which I realized when I saw the amount of food she ordered.

"If you were hungry, why didn't you wake me up?"

"Ah, you worked hard for a week with the competition. I thought you should sleep in for once."

"Heh, thanks to that, I feel like I could fly. I'll treat you today~."

I smiled bravely, and my mother tilted her head.

"Where do you have the money? You don't even take an allowance."

"Mom, I'm with SoundFilm. How well Mr. Han takes care of us."

I joked, and my mother snorted.

"SoundFilm? Mr. Han? Does that company have a future?"

"Mr. Han is more talented in business than I thought."

"Wow! It must be very different from home."

"Of course~."

I chuckled and nodded, and my mother laughed heartily.

Then she added with a stern expression.

"But, I need to question why they gave you an allowance without me knowing."

"Ahaha... Mom, I asked for it."

"That's the point. Why didn't you tell me after they gave it to you? I can't let this go. Wait until the day after tomorrow."

"Eh, it's not like they gave me a huge amount of money..."

Huh? The day after tomorrow?

I blinked, feeling something was off, and my mother burst out laughing.

"I want to see the final. So I asked my client to adjust my schedule. Now I'm working late every night."

"Wow, cancel the 'good at business' part."

"Right?"

My mother laughed.

I smiled too.

I felt a bit more energized.

"But, knowing that the two people who were my first audience will be watching together... It definitely gives me more energy."

#

After finishing the meal with my mother, I stopped by a café on my way to the music school.

To catch up with someone to talk about music during a break.

When I entered through a small door at the corner, reporter Choi Sung-ryeong was sitting at the window seat, as if it were her regular spot, and smiled.

"Looks like you'll become a regular here."

"I already am. I even got this as a freebie."

Reporter Choi Sung-ryeong showed off a small plate of Medovik (a Russian cake).

I chuckled and sat down next to her, and she ordered an apple juice.

"By the way, what's up? Why aren't you resting at the hotel?"

"I have rehearsals with the orchestra for the final pieces starting tonight. So I thought I'd stop by on my way out."

"Ah, I see. You're preparing right away."

"Yes. We just need to do our part, but the orchestra members have to prepare multiple pieces."

Choi Sung-ryeong nodded and asked.

"So, have you decided on the piece? I mean, the final pieces are probably set, but..."

She was right.

It was the Tchaikovsky Competition, after all.

Naturally, one of the final pieces had to be a Tchaikovsky concerto.

On the other hand, among the pieces that required coordination with the orchestra, there were some that the organizers left up to the participants.

"What about the piece for the winners' gala? Isn't that up to you?"

"That's right."

As I mumbled, she added.

"So, do you have a piece in mind?"

#

...After chatting with Choi Sung-ryeong about various music topics.

When it was time to leave the café, the owner approached and shyly asked for a photo.

I tilted my head.

'Why me?'

While I was thinking that, Choi Sung-ryeong said that my story had already spread throughout Moscow.

She even added that I was somewhat famous, but I decided to ignore that part because it was embarrassing.

"..."

So, I said goodbye to Choi Sung-ryeong and headed to the music school.

When I entered the orchestra practice room, many musicians were preparing in a spacious area.

In front of them were a concert grand piano and a conductor's podium, arranged side by side.

It seemed they had set up the stage to resemble the concerto performance stage.

'This is quite a large scale... '

Orchestras have different names depending on their size.

'Chamber' and 'Symphony'.

And at first glance, this was clearly a symphony orchestra.

As I slowly entered, the gazes of the musicians gradually turned towards me. Soon, the eyes of nearly 100 people were on me.

While I was considering whether to greet them or not, a middle-aged man approached and extended his hand.

"Welcome. I'm Andrei Malanov, the conductor of the Svetlanov Symphony."

"Hello, I'm Han Seoho."

Maestro Andrei smiled and added.

"Let's create the best stage together."

Perhaps because of his words, or because the performance was about to begin,

the sinking feeling in my chest that had been there after a good night's sleep started to tremble again.

After shaking hands, I greeted the orchestra members.

Then I sat at the piano and placed the sheet music on the stand.

"......"

The gazes still felt intense.

Curious, questioning, doubting, and hopeful.

Is this the level I'm at?

Some were even focusing on my unusual sheet music.

But as the conductor's fingers hovered in the air,

the gazes that had been on me quickly shifted to the conductor.

I also looked at his fingers and placed my hands on the keys.

...This was the start of a large-scale rehearsal for the final.

#

The campus surrounded by buildings with a yellowish hue.

Kim Sejin was walking out of the practice room.

Even though it was the white nights, it wasn't 24 hours of daylight, and darkness had already descended.

Walking aimlessly, a lamppost-like stage appeared, perfect for deep thought.

As he walked a few laps around the campus in front of the practice room, familiar sights began to appear, and a performance came to mind.

Han Seoho's second-round piano performance, which many participants had gathered to watch, was replayed under the lamppost.

When I saw what piece he was playing, I was drawn into his performance itself.

I had forgotten it was a competition and was simply amazed.

A touch completely different from my own.

The difference in tone and the increasingly distinct expression.

But that wasn't the most important thing.

It was just a performance. One that could be enjoyed.

That's why, perhaps,

after the performance, what remained was a sense of relief. And as I turned to leave, a lamppost in my mind also lit up.

'Touch, expression, tone... beyond that, music I can enjoy.'

While advocating for a free style, I wasn't actually living it. My fingers were just expressing it.

Under the lamppost in my mind, there was music I could enjoy.

The rest was still dark.

But it's no longer a standstill.

I can see the destination.

I can find the path and reach it.

And I can enjoy the journey,

"......?"

As Kim Sejin entered the area illuminated by the lamppost, he snapped out of his thoughts.

He saw a blonde foreigner crossing in front of him.

'Leo Dubochel?'

A violin prodigy from France.

He also had a thoughtful look on his face.

And.

He was also walking towards the lamppost.