< For the Music Genius - Episode 250 >
“Tsk.”
Spencer clicked his tongue in regret. Why did Kang Hyun’s New York performance and the London Symphony’s performance schedule have to overlap? He wanted to go to New York right away, but he couldn’t help it.
There was no need to explain how popular Kang Hyun’s New York performance was. Many media outlets, including the British newspapers Daily Telegraph, Independent, and Guardian, wrote columns expressing anticipation for his New York performance.
“Maestro, I see you are very sorry.”
At that moment, conductor Dmitry entered the conductor’s office with a rare smile.
“That damn guy won’t even send me a single ticket.”
“Hyun probably knows the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance schedule as well. It’s probably to avoid worrying the two maestros unnecessarily.”
“Could it be that the ticket price is too expensive?”
Spencer cracked a joke as he opened the newspaper. On one side of the column was a headline that said Kang Hyun’s New York concert was being sold on the black market for the same price as the Super Bowl.
I wondered if this could really happen in the 21st century. I thought the days when classical music was at the center of popular music were already over.
“When did Maestro Karas say he would come?”
“He said a week later. As soon as his schedule in Austria is over, he will join the members and start rehearsing. He still calls me several times a day to check on the members’ practice progress.”
“I gave you plenty of time considering the Maestro’s age, but it was my fault.”
Spencer smiled pleasantly.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the London Symphony Orchestra entered a second heyday following the recruitment of Empress Karas.
Although Karas did not appear on stage very often due to his age and physical problems, he supported Spencer as if he were a conductor offstage.
With two conductors with world-class skills and experience coaching the orchestra members at the same time, it was only natural that the London Symphony’s skills would improve.
“The maestro also seemed very interested in Hyun’s performance.”
“You bastard, how great would it be if you could come to London and perform with the New York Philharmonic instead? If things go on like this, the Empress and I will be conducting the whole time. Will you come when your shoulder is sore?”
“Maestro, don’t joke. I think you are both right.”
Dmitry gave a warm smile that contrasted with his cold gaze.
The chemistry between Karas and Spencer was truly heavenly. Their love for the London Symphony was also immense.
There were also rumors that the Berlin Philharmonic had contacted the Empress, but she ultimately chose the London Symphony. Of course, Kang Hyun must have played a major role behind the scenes.
“There is talk that Hyun will restore the glory of classical music. It is said that a classical music boom has already occurred among American teenagers.”
“Don’t classic booms sometimes happen in the upper class?”
“It’s not a social craze. I’ve heard from friends who are active as violinists in the US that teaching musical instruments to children these days is actually becoming a culture, regardless of social class. Behind this, there must be the success story of Hyun’s entry into Billboard.”
Who would have thought that a classic that has always been a minor commercial hit would be aiming for number one on Billboard’s singles chart?
News reached the UK that they had already broken through the 7th place and settled in the 3rd place. It was truly an unstoppable comeback.
“Already, record magazines such as Gramophone and Deutsche are evaluating Hyun’s entry into Billboard as making a mark in classical history.”
“A mark in classical history……”
It was not a wrong statement. At first, everyone thought that a prodigy had appeared. It was a real sensation that an Asian boy had become the youngest winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
But his steps did not stop there. As if he were writing a myth, didn’t he continue to create unbelievable miracles?
Moreover, it was thanks to Kang Hyun that the legendary maestro Empress Karas was brought back to the stage.
It can be said with certainty that Kang Hyun has already become a figure with enough influence to shake up the classical music industry with just his name.
* * *
Saaaaah.
Dry ice was poured down on the stage. It was an unexpected stage device.
Sergei, sitting on the piano stool, took a deep breath. Wasn’t this originally an unscheduled performance? It was the OST that ran through the entirety of director Jim Filmer’s ambitious ‘Horror’.
-Hyun, it would be a great honor if you could play the OST of Horror at your New York concert.
These were the words that director Jim Filmer personally said to the New York Philharmonic when he visited them in person.
Director Jim Filmer, known as a Hollywood master, had complete trust in Kang Hyun.
The proof of this was the performance today. The OST that runs through the entire movie was performed on stage even though the movie hadn’t even been released yet.
As Kang Hyun went up on stage, the noisy audience became quiet as if it were a lie.
Her hair was neat and she had no double eyelids, but her large eyes shone deeply as if they had been filled with sunspots.
Sergei, sitting closest to the conductor, seemed to understand why American teenagers were crazy about Kang Hyun.
His musical talent was a given, and his mysterious appearance was beyond words.
Especially on stage, Kang Hyun was more charismatic than any other male actor and more beautiful and noble than any other actress. It was as if he was the owner of this stage.
At that moment,
Drumroll!
The conductor’s hand quickly crossed the air. The sound of the drums reached the ceiling of the concert hall as if thunder was falling.
The conductor’s hand holding the baton moved slowly, very slowly, as if he was holding a baby.
As the sound of the drums that had been pounding like thunder began to echo and fade away.
The conductor’s gaze and the conductor’s breathing began simultaneously. Starting with the violin part, the melody of the string section rose gently.
Sergei waited for his turn. As the rising melody swept over the concert hall like a tidal wave, long fingers on the keyboard began to dance.
Sergei’s shoulders were heaving up and down like the rough waters of the sea. His fingers dancing on the keyboard were also sobbing.
Sergei considered his arrival in New York one of the best fortunes of his life. To be precise, it was a compliment to meeting the conductor of the new world, Kang Hyun, at the New York Philharmonic.
Drumroll!
At that moment, the conductor’s gesture and the sound of the big drum echoed again.
The highlight of the concert was just now. The conductor’s baton was swung down loudly as the members nervously grabbed their instruments. It was a perfect metronome.
Sergei’s piano and the many melodies of the members began to rise, competing with each other.
It was Kang Hyeon’s job to lead the way in the middle of it all.
Sergei was once again feeling the ecstasy he had felt when playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, which is considered the pinnacle of the Romantic era.
The score harmoniously expressed the competition and sadness between the orchestra and the soloist. It was a perfect score that made me exclaim in admiration even while playing.
If Rachmaninoff were alive, he would have definitely applauded Kang Hyun’s score.
* * *
Director Jim Filmer felt like the entire plot of the film was flashing through his head while listening to the OST of ‘Horror’.
As a film director, I knew how difficult it was to create a song that would run through the entire film.
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In that sense, it was clear that Kang Hyun had created another film.
‘amazing.’
I couldn’t help but be amazed. Who would have thought that the beginning of the New York concert would start with a horror OST?
Since this symphony had already been the subject of much talk since Kang Hyun took over as music director, the audience’s interest was also high.
How many hit songs did Hollywood have to produce to have such a buzz? Expectations were so high that they couldn’t possibly live up to the audience’s expectations.
But Kang Hyun thrilled the audience with his performance.
Even though the first stage was over, the audience’s aftertaste did not easily fade.
Moreover, if it was a planned repertoire, the next song was ‘Gang Hyun Symphony No. 1’, which is sweeping the Billboard charts.
It was a very long song, almost an epic compared to commercial music, but it was still on the Billboard charts.
“I feel really lucky to be here today, even if I had to buy a ticket on the black market.”
“I agree with you. If I hadn’t attended Hyun’s performance today, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life as a reporter.”
The reporters also had a hard time hiding their excitement. The same goes for the pop music critics. The critics who occasionally spit out harsh words toward Kang Hyun were visibly overwhelmed from the first stage.
Of course, even the greatest classical musicians have given Kang Hyun’s scores rave reviews.
“But is it really true?”
“Are you talking about Gang Hyun Symphony No.3 being included in the repertoire?”
“Yes, it was the Third Symphony, not the Second.”
There were certainly some surprising parts in the repertoire.
Rather than recycling the works of outstanding composers from the classical and romantic eras, such as Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, and Rachmaninoff, only symphonies composed by Kang Hyun were included.
The most notable part among them was ‘Gang hyun symphoy no.3’.
-The second symphony is still unfinished.
Among the three symphonies, no. 1 and no. 3 will be presented, excluding the unfinished no. 2, and experts predict that there is a high probability that Kang Hyun’s new symphony will also be on the Billboard charts.
At that time, Kang Hyun, who had finished his first stage, gave a brief greeting on stage.
“I would like to thank the audience for attending the New York Philharmonic’s performance today. The reason I, as the conductor, am taking a moment to say hello before starting the next performance is because the repertoire has changed.”
A change in repertoire, but the members’ eyes showed no sign of wavering, as if it was a planned procedure.
“We will add Gang Hyun Symphony No. 2, which was originally unfinished, to the repertoire. Of course, the previously scheduled repertoire will be performed without any changes. We would like to apologize for the unintentional extension of the performance time. Now, please enjoy the magnificent melodies of the New York Philharmonic.”
It was only then that director Jim Filmer realized that Kang Hyun, who seemed blunt and cynical, was actually a conductor with an extraordinary mind.
Clearly, the sudden addition of the repertoire was also a planned procedure. You could tell just by looking at the conductor’s faint smile.
There were no complaints from the audience about the extended performance time. Instead, the concert hall was filled with excitement and thrill.
At that moment, Maestro Hyun raised his hands again. Along with the excited gasps of the audience, Hyun’s time arrived.
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