Chapter 60

060. The Star of the White Night (2)

We arrived in St. Petersburg by high-speed train.

It wasn't too tiring, considering a four-hour journey is relatively short in this vast country, but we still decided to check into the hotel and have a late dinner.

Outside, it was a perfect festival atmosphere.

The crowds at the Tchaikovsky Competition were incomparably larger, and the cheers of the joyful people never ceased, even for a second.

It was easy to spot people pouring vodka from long glasses, a typical Russian sight. Of course, it was mostly tourists who ordered such drinks.

And, as expected, music of all genres flowed from every corner, an essential part of any festival.

"......Can we go out after dinner?"

Lim Jin-gyu, who had been sipping chicken soup and missing home, spoke with his mouth full.

"It's better to get a good night's sleep now."

"Why?"

Next to him, Reto, with his mouth full of pelmeni (Russian dumplings), grinned mischievously.

"The wild and fiery nights in Russia start at dawn. How old is Seo Ho, exactly?"

Chill. Lim Jin-gyu scolded him, wondering what he was trying to say to a kid. Reto laughed, saying Russia is fast-paced. What's fast about it?

"Stop talking nonsense. There's a Red Sails Festival by the Neva River at dawn. It's really worth seeing."

I quickly tapped on my phone. It's faster to search than to ask, as any modern kid would do.

Tsk. What's so funny? Modern kids, huh.

Still, I was pleased with the search results. The red lighting along the riverbank was so vivid it could be called a fireworks show.

"Indeed......it's a wild and fiery night."

"Right? Jin-gyu, what were you thinking? You're the most perverted."

Reto's cheekiness was echoed by the other members.

Lim Jin-gyu laughed in disbelief, and Pavel joined in, teasing him.

I couldn't help but laugh, unable to catch my breath.

Then, past midnight.

After a brief rest, we all went out into the streets with the Baynov members.

With over a hundred people, we naturally split into groups, and somehow, this combination formed.

Pavel, the concertmaster, and my guardian (?) Lim Jin-gyu......

"Ungrateful cellists. They left me behind."

Reto, who looked like he had ended up at the boss's table during a company dinner, added.

Well, I'm having a great time.

The streets, now darker, were burning with even more heat.

Dancers and street musicians provided endless entertainment at every block.

I wanted to stop and watch each one, but if I did, we'd probably reach the Neva River at dawn.

So, we walked without a break, or rather, with our minds elsewhere.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at the Neva River, where people were already gathered in crowds.

Even in the dense crowd, where there was no room to stand, the dancing and music continued.

"......"

A man was playing the violin, and a dancer was performing a gypsy dance to the music.

There was no more space to walk, so I turned around to watch.

"Enjoying the street performance?"

Lim Jin-gyu asked, coming up beside me.

I nodded, and he put his arm around me, starting a conversation.

"Street performances like this are also charming, right?"

"Yes. Especially the idea of performing on a stage of their own choosing."

"......That's a valid perspective. Different viewpoints indeed."

"Huh?"

"......"

Lim Jin-gyu silently watched the street performance, muttering, "A stage of their own choosing......"

Right. For these street musicians, the entire area is their stage. The crowd gathered by the riverbank are the characters, the old buildings and dark sky are the background, and the rippling river is the setting.

I took some loose change from my pocket and put it in the hat in front of them.

As the street musician smiled gratefully, a loud sound like a cannon was heard.

A red glow spread over the dark river. Soon, a large ship with a red sail, bright enough to dye the river, passed by.

The sky gradually turned purple, signaling the approach of dawn.

At the very end of the night, which lasted only four hours, the best fireworks show in Russia began.

───!

People will remember this moment.

The continuous explosions of colorful fireworks, the faint smell of gunpowder, and the music still playing behind us.

These will be the many ways to remember the White Night Festival.

I thought my performance tomorrow could also play a role in that.

I refined and refined the inspirations that came to me until the fireworks covering the sky disappeared.

#

......Before the afterglow of last night's Red Sails Festival had completely faded from the streets, preparations for the next festival were already underway.

The pinnacle and finale of the White Night Festival, "The Star of the White Night," was the reason so many people had gathered at the Mariinsky Theatre and Concert Hall.

"Ballet......classical......aren't they too conventional? Isn't there any fiery band music?"

Banners for ballet and orchestra performances fluttered on every street lamp.

A man, dragging his complaining friend, clicked his tongue.

"Are you really Russian? Do Russians not like ballet and classical music?"

"Still, I don't like it. Let's just go to a bar and have fun, like when we came for graduation."

"Hey, let's just leave this guy."

Just as the woman following them was about to give up and shake her head, a group passed by, chatting.

"Apparently, there's a solo performance by the Tchaikovsky Competition winner this year."

"Ah, both the piano and violin?"

"Yeah. I heard so much about it that I watched a live stream for a bit. It was amazing, even on a small laptop speaker......Oh, you're a RosConcert employee, so you must have seen it live, right?"

"I did. Right at the back of the stage. I couldn't really talk much, worried about disturbing the performance, but anyway. The Great Hall has no air conditioning, so it was really hot, but I got goosebumps. It felt like winter."

"Wow, that good? I'm looking forward to it."

And immediately, a similar conversation was heard from behind.

"Look, the performer's name is even listed separately. It's Han Seo Ho."

"Right. He seems really amazing. Plus, he's kind. He even got us tickets."

"Phew, that's what I'm saying. Anyway, it's really lucky. To have another chance to see the performer live."

"I'm looking forward to it too. I always thought classical music was for others......"

It wasn't just the elderly. Everyone passing by mentioned this year's competition winner, Han Seo Ho.

The man who had been resisting classical music listened to all the conversations and glanced at his friends.

Seeing the questioning looks, he licked his lips.

"......Since we're already here, why don't we give it a try?"

#

In the waiting room of the Mariinsky Concert Hall.

The audience's cheers echoed into the waiting room.

The performances by the Capella Orchestra, St. Petersburg Orchestra, and Mariinsky Orchestra had reached a fever pitch.

The excitement was palpable even here.

Despite being a classical performance, the lack of excessive formality made it feel more like a festival.

"I just heard some staff talking in the restroom."

Reto, returning to the waiting room, caught the attention of the other members.

"What did they say?"

"They're worried about Seo Ho's solo performance. It's an original composition, and they're afraid the audience might not react well."

Among the performances, the Baynov Symphony would be the grand finale. Seo Ho's solo performance right before it naturally became crucial.

He could potentially dampen the enthusiasm built up by the other orchestras.

It seemed the staff were concerned about that......

"So?"

"So what? I had a hard time holding back my laughter."

Reto chuckled. The members laughed along, and the concertmaster, checking his violin, added,

"It's understandable since they haven't heard it. We had the same reaction at first."

"Right. I thought it was a joke at first. I assumed he was just playing an unknown piece and claiming it was his own."

One member, agreeing enthusiastically, said with anticipation,

"How surprised will people be? If the Tchaikovsky Competition winner, who can handle two instruments so skillfully, is also a top-notch composer."

"Still, don't show it in front of Seo Ho. He might feel pressured."

The concertmaster's words made Reto tilt his head.

"Does he feel pressured?"

Lim Jin-gyu chuckled and replied,

"He does."

"Really? Then I'll be careful. I don't want it to be heard in the next room."

"But, he'll do even better."

"......"

Just as Reto was stunned, the door opened.

A staff member, fiddling with an earpiece, came in to guide us.

"Baynov Symphony, please head to the stage!"

#

I was the last to step onto the stage.

Standing alone among the over a hundred musicians already seated, I scanned the audience.

The spotlight on me made the audience seem dark.

But the piercing gazes and thunderous applause and cheers filled the hall.

I bowed and took my seat at the piano.

The Steinway 318, the model I'm most familiar with.

It wasn't brought from my studio but provided by Steinway.

I slowly raised my hands. The smooth touch of the keys felt like a thin film.

Suddenly, a silence fell.

I was now ready to perform.

Silence in music is a blank sheet of paper.

And I intended to draw a city with 88 keys.

I hoped that among the many people, at least a few would understand the city I was drawing.

Glancing down at the stage, I began to play.

──.

'A lazy arpeggio slowly resonates from the high notes.'

It depicts the sunlight streaming through the window.

'Natural dissonances that pass by quickly.'

It captures the unique noise of the city, which is never the same from one day to the next.

A landscape of the city, painted with sound.

This time, my left hand expresses the footsteps.

Not hurried like in Schubert's Erlkönig, nor intricate like in Ravel's Scarbo.

Slowly walking down the corridor and stopping at the door.

And opening it.

───!

The wind brushes past, lifting my hair.

In Moscow......

No, considering the city's symbolism, it could be called the streets of Russia.

I walk out into the city,

taking strong steps.

And just as my heels touch the ground,

───creak!

......I stopped the wheelchair.

I couldn't move any further, at the threshold.

What held me back was my own hand.

Gripping the wheel, I shook the other hand.

Haydn, after talking about Wolfgang all night and mourning him, slowly left the Friederike Castle.

My farewell ended there.

Each step he took seemed to leave a trail of sorrow for the loss of a friend, making my nose tingle.

Ahem. Clearing my throat, I spoke to Ipero.

"......He's going to London."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I think these performances will be a great success. Haydn's mind is brimming with musical ideas, as much as he grieves."

Like tears falling on paper.

I heard the entire story of those musical ideas through our all-night conversation.

And I also heard stories about other musicians. How Wolfgang's death was moving so many people.

"And it's not just Haydn. Etienne is planning a concert in Paris, and Muzio in Naples, to honor the dead genius. Wolfgang's legacy is already inspiring other musicians. What kind of performances will they create......?"

Ipero, hearing my casual question, asked in a heavy voice,

"Do you want to see them?"

"Where? London?"

"London, Paris, and Naples."

I blinked and looked up at Ipero, then laughed bitterly.

I imagined it, but it didn't seem possible. Only fear came over me.

A foreign country. The fear of the unknown.

It was different from the nearby city of Mannheim, where Ipero had taken me to see Haydn's performance.

"No. It's fine."

Licking my dry lips, I slowly turned the wheelchair.

I returned to the castle.

The light pouring in behind me gradually narrowed,

thud—.

......The door closed.