Chapter 94

094. The Largest Instrument (1)

Sweet instant coffee trickles into a small paper cup.

The performer, who has taken out the half-filled cup, sits down in a corner of the break room, sipping it as if it were a hot broth.

“Are you really going to start all over again?”

In response to his question, Yoon Tae-hwan, who was receiving congratulations for his pregnancy news, gave an awkward smile and nodded.

“This performance and the announcement last week, you know, the one from the SJ Cultural Foundation. I’m only going to try for these two.”

“You’ve made a good decision. I’ve never seen a hornist like you. Well, except for me.”

As Yoon Tae-hwan smiled at the performer’s banter, a young performer among those gathered around them looked curiously.

“What did your wife say?”

“She asked why I’m suffering alone and told me to do everything I wanted to do before Roa is born. After that, it’ll be tough. Oh, Roa is the baby’s name.”

“Wow, Tae-hwan, you really got a good wife!”

“Ugh, I’m so jealous!”

“Why? Does your wife make more money?”

“Sir, I’m single...”

“Oh, really? Sorry.”

As the married performers clicked their tongues at the young performer’s dejected look, the performer who had quickly finished the coffee in the paper cup asked Yoon Tae-hwan.

“But, you were so firm. What made you change your mind?”

“Oh, that...”

Yoon Tae-hwan calmly recounted the day he had refused the offer and gone to thank Han Seo-ho.

The expressions of the performers, who had been listening silently, varied widely. By the time Yoon Tae-hwan finished his story, they were all chuckling.

“...How old is the composer?”

“He’s supposed to be a senior in high school next month?”

“When I was a senior, I only cared about which university I’d go to...”

“This is like a second life, isn’t it? His mind is so deep. And he’s so talented.”

“That’s why he creates such pieces. I felt it while practicing this time. It’s so thrilling. I’d believe it if someone said Beethoven wrote it.”

“Me too, me too. When I listen to it with a glass of wine at night, I feel so grand, thinking, ‘I played such a piece!’”

“The media isn’t just calling him a genius for nothing. And he’s also socially adept.”

“...It feels like a revival meeting is about to start.”

Kang Joon-seo, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation of the performers gathered in front of the vending machine, shrugged. In fact, there was no need to eavesdrop. The voices were so loud, it felt like a revival meeting.

Lee So-hyun, who had been nodding with her arms crossed, said:

“It’s really impressive. I feel like we’re adults and Seo-ho is a student, even though it should be the opposite.”

“But why are you looking at me?”

“Because you were right in front of me.”

“No, you turned your head exactly 15 degrees towards me like this, like this.”

Kang Joon-seo, making a 15-degree angle with her arms, was indignant.

Kim Young-tae clutched his stomach and laughed, while Shin Su-a ignored it and looked at the score.

At that moment, a performer entered the break room and announced the news like a messenger.

“Did you see the news? Albert is in Korea.”

“Albert? The Albert from the New York Philharmonic?”

“Maybe it’s just someone who looks like him?”

“He was even photographed at the airport. Look at this.”

The performers’ heads gathered over the phone.

“Surely...”

Someone who saw the screen drew out the words.

In the brief silence that followed, someone asked:

“Maybe he’s on vacation?”

“Probably. He just gave a historic performance, and the final ‘Chorus’ was amazing. He might have come to take a break.”

“What’s there to rest here? Jeju Island would be better. Oh, should I call him? Our Albert.”

“While you’re calling, ask which hotel he’s staying at. I want to get his signature on my instrument.”

“...Stop talking nonsense and let’s go in. It’s time.”

#

Meanwhile, in the practice room, where people were gathered in small groups, chatting.

A staff member from SJ Entertainment’s cultural performance department, who was working on a laptop on their lap in a corner, asked me with a slightly excited look:

“Everyone will be so surprised, right? A classical master, and not just any, but the ultimate one.”

“Right?”

“Ugh, I’m nervous.”

“I’m nervous too.”

“Me too, me too.”

“But, will this secret be kept until the performance? Someone might recognize him on the street.”

“We’ve already coordinated with the New York Philharmonic. When the news breaks, we’ll say he’s here on vacation. He just finished a big performance and usually travels to different countries for breaks, so it will seem natural.”

I nodded and placed the conducting score on the podium. Then, I returned to the corner and watched the performers take their seats.

“But, I heard you often have personal calls with the maestro. Is that true?”

“Me?”

“Oh, the communication team was saying that Albert counts down to 10 PM. That’s the perfect time for calls between Korea and the US.”

So that’s why he always called at that time.

I smiled and nodded.

“I do talk to him often.”

Actually, it’s not just often; it’s almost every day recently.

The amount of questions the world’s top conductor asks a composer who has just released an album is astounding.

I can imagine how much he must have struggled with the score, which had no answers, and the depth of his frustration is evident.

Of course, he wouldn’t have become the top maestro if he had overlooked even minor details.

“Wow...”

The staff member looked at me with a sense of wonder, seemingly impressed by the frequent calls with Albert.

Just then, her phone rang.

“He’s coming up?”

She covered the phone and asked me.

I quickly scanned the practice room. All the performers were in their seats.

“It should be fine.”

“Okay, he can come up now.”

The staff member, who had said this into the phone, hung up. At that moment, a conversation among the performers caught my attention.

“Did you hear that Albert August is in Korea?!”

“...”

“But, a conductor is coming here, right? Could it be that Albert is coming here? If so, everyone will faint. Hahaha.”

“...”

“Hahaha... Ha... Ha?”

As I remained silent, the laughter gradually faded.

The expressions of the other performers, who were looking at us, hardened.

I just smiled and looked at the performers.

“The conductor’s name is...”

Just then, the thick door beyond us slowly opened.

“He’s here. Conductor.”

As I looked at the door, the faces of those who had been skeptical turned to surprise.

White hair, a navy blue long coat, and brown shoes that clicked.

The world’s top conductor was entering the practice room.

#

...After Albert’s unnecessary self-introduction ended.

The practice room was still in shock.

But Albert didn’t seem to care.

He took out his own score. I glanced at it and looked back at him.

He smiled.

All the results of our daily calls, questions, and discussions were reflected in it.

“Please do your best.”

“Likewise.”

He went up to the podium, and I sat at the piano on the opposite side of the orchestra.

Like Don Quixote facing a giant windmill.

And the practice began.

Under the direction of a master, it was anything but ordinary.

...Albert made me realize once again that top-tier conductors are different.

Conducting involves seeing and leading a group of dozens or even hundreds of performers as one instrument, the orchestra.

In a sense, it’s like playing the largest instrument on earth.

Naturally, the bond with the instrument is crucial.

I thought it would be difficult to play an unfamiliar instrument, unsure of how it works or what sound it produces.

But he skillfully tuned the complex instrument that is the orchestra, made it familiar to his hands, and finally mastered it.

The performers gathered before him seemed like a mere trio or quartet.

It was a performance so grand, it reminded me of the greatest conductor I had ever seen, Joseph Haydn.

A passionate and tight performance.

The performers were getting tired from the repeated practice.

And a great conductor can quickly and accurately judge the capabilities of the orchestra.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

The practice ended earlier than expected.

But even the SJ staff, who had been watching, had no doubts.

The density of the practice was unprecedented.

After the practice, both the performers and the observers were catching their breath.

“It was a strange feeling. The composer is performing, and I’m conducting.”

...After a brief greeting, Albert smiled and asked me.

Then, with a serious look, he asked:

“How was it? As a composer.”

A very slight tension appeared on his face, which had been rigid throughout the practice.

For someone who only insisted on classical music, asking a composer this was a first.

I smiled and replied:

“You were the best performer.”

A performer who plays the giant instrument that is the orchestra.

He savored the words and smiled.

“Perhaps Paganini felt this way when he held a Guarneri.”

I smiled, remembering the actual scene and the memory.

I really enjoyed it.

“Of course, the orchestra needs more practice. I clearly felt why you wanted to be part of this, but there are many things that need to be addressed.”

“Although there are only a few practices left, I think the performers can learn a lot from Maestro today.”

“That would make me happy too.”

“Thank you for joining the practice right after arriving. I hope you can rest and explore Korea. See you at the next practice.”

“Oh, the next practice is the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm...”

Albert paused and pondered.

I tilted my head.

“Is there a problem?”

“I feel like it’s not enough.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s do this.”

He said with a determined look.

“I’ll come here every day.”

#

When I returned to the practice room, the staff member was repeating to the performers that today’s events must not be disclosed.

I quietly approached from behind and waited. Once the briefing (education?) was over, it was my turn.

The faces of the performers, who were packing up their instruments, were peculiar.

They looked exhausted from the grueling practice they had never experienced, yet their smiles and admiration made them seem highly excited.

“The conductor...”

As I began, the performers’ attention turned to me.

I continued:

“He will come here every day. And I will do the same.”

“Yes...?”

“The next practice is the day after tomorrow, right?”

I nodded at the puzzled performers.

“Yes, the next practice is the day after tomorrow. On other days, you can come freely when you have time.”

I conveyed it as if it were no big deal.

“This is just an extra. Maestro wants to guide you more.”

“...!”

Of course, no one here was unaware of what a great opportunity this was.