The God of Conducting Starting from Absolute Pitch

Chapter 305 Qi Min
opera.

This is the most important and core performance subject for all conductors in their conducting career.

Opera is no longer just simple music, it also includes a series of contents such as stage design and vocal music that need to be handled by the conductor.

Basically, you can say that opera is the touchstone for conductors.

The level of a conductor's ability has nothing to do with the symphonies he performs. After all, a symphony is ultimately a combination of instruments and is not particularly difficult overall.

Opera, on the other hand, adds dance, vocals, coordination of the entire stage and many other factors to the symphony, and its difficulty skyrocketed.

The requirements for command are also higher.

It can even be considered the most demanding work among all works.

In other words, conducting an opera is actually a bit like being a director.

Just like those musicals, both the stage and the audience are extremely important.

When Chen Qiu was in college, he actually performed an opera with other members of his school.

But at that time it was more of a school task, and the operas we produced were actually quite rough.

Although they were all from the same school, many musicians that Chen Qiu didn't know came in later, and ultimately the number of musicians that Chen Qiu was familiar with was less than one-third, or even less.

In addition, since everyone is just here to perform, they don't need to be particularly familiar with each other, so they may just communicate with each other once or twice, read the music score twice, rehearse once, and then they are ready to officially perform.

Therefore, the feeling that the opera gave Chen Qiu at that time was just tiredness, and there was not any particularly good feeling.

By the time he officially joined the Berlin Philharmonic, he no longer had the opportunity to conduct an opera.

After all, he is just the deputy conductor of the second orchestra. He doesn't even have the chance to perform. How can he get the opportunity to conduct the opera?

In addition, there were not many opportunities to conduct operas, so Chen Qiu actually excluded opera conducting from his career.

Now when he heard that he had the opportunity to conduct the opera, Chen Qiu suddenly became nervous.

He looked at Professor Li Anguo who was waiting for him at the door. After a moment of silence, he finally stood up, walked to Professor Li Anguo, and nodded to him.

"Okay, let's go. I am indeed very interested in this piece."

"Ah."

Professor Li Anguo did not find anything strange.

Conducting an opera is every conductor's dream.

Professor Li Anguo has never seen many people who can resist the temptation to conduct an opera seriously.

He brought Chen Qiu to the parking lot outside the school, and drove towards the Haicheng Opera House, talking as he drove.

"As I just told you, this time the Haicheng Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra have cooperated. The Haicheng Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra is responsible for the orchestra's performance. In other words, you are the conductor of the orchestra, and you can lead some people in your orchestra to perform with the Haicheng Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. The Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra is responsible for the stage design and singing."

"Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra, are their choreography strong?" Chen Qiu couldn't help but ask Professor Li Anguo, "I know the opera house's bel canto group is strong, but in terms of choreography, the ballet company is actually stronger, right?"

"No, the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra is still stronger."

Professor Li Anguo said to Chen Qiu while driving.

“Haicheng Opera House organizes its own opera performances every year. This year, their opera performances performed very well. They have the potential to catch up to the third place in Haicheng, and even have a chance to touch the second place in Haicheng. The Haicheng Municipal Symphony Orchestra did not have many external performances this year. In addition, the only performance it had was not strong enough, with a score of only 8.4 points. It may fall out of the top five this year. Therefore, you can completely understand the Haicheng Opera House as a symphony orchestra in Haicheng that specializes in performing operas.”

Li Anguo glanced at Chen Qiu and added.

"If we simply discuss the strength of the opera, the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra should be the best in Haicheng. Although the Haicheng Ballet may have decent dancing skills, considering that performances require more than just dancing, the two companies will not cooperate with the people in the ballet. If you plan to do an opera yourself in the future, you'd better not look for the ballet. Their strength..."

"There's nothing wrong with dancing, and she's an excellent dancer in ballet, but her ability in opera is average?"

Chen Qiu said with a smile.

Li Anguo nodded.

"Yes, so although Chief Wu Jianhai told me that he and the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra collaborated to complete the opera as their annual drama this year, the person who is actually in charge is still the stage director of the Haicheng Opera House."

"Qi Min!"

Crunch!

The vehicle stopped at the gate of Haicheng Opera House.

To be precise, it is not the entrance of the Shanghai Opera House, but the entrance of the Shanghai Opera House office building.

This is a three-story symmetrical building in a very narrow alley.

The overall style is very consistent with the decoration of government compounds in the last century.

Clean, simple, without much decoration.

The gray exterior wall is decorated with rows of frosted glass wrapped in gray-red wood.

Before you even walk inside, you can feel the solemn and heavy style.

Once you walk inside, the rows of closed gray wooden doors and the red carpets on the floor make you feel even more depressing.

A very typical office building.

It even looks like an office building from the last century.

Looking at the office building in front of him, the corners of Chen Qiu's mouth twitched involuntarily. He always felt that he was not in a symphony orchestra, but was about to go to an office to work.

He could even imagine what was inside the office.

An extremely heavy desk covered with a layer of frosted glass. Under the desk there is either a layer of dustproof cloth or some documents or photos.

There is a huge thermos on the table, from which you can pour hot water into the thermos cup on the side anytime and anywhere.

There must be tea leaves or wolfberries in the thermos, which sank to the bottom of the cup. It was picked up by a gray-haired clerk wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, glasses, and holding a newspaper. He blew away the tea leaves or wolfberries floating on the surface, took a sip, and smacked his lips.

After doing all this, he poked his head out from behind the newspaper, looked at the two people standing at the door, and said in a dragging voice.

"Who are you looking for? Do you have an appointment?"

Thinking of this place, Chen Qiu couldn't help but slow down his pace.

He didn't feel anything when asked to work with a group of ordinary old people in the radio symphony orchestra. After all, those old people were fine except that they were a little stubborn.

But if he cooperated with such a person, Chen Qiu felt that he might be angry to death.

Professor Li Anguo didn't think so much.

He walked straight to the door of one of the offices and knocked twice gently. After hearing the "Come in" from inside, he pushed the door open and walked in.

Chen Qiu thought about it, followed Professor Li Anguo into the office, and then was slightly stunned.

It was completely different from what Chen Qiu had imagined.

This office does not have the traditional desks and kettles, nor does it have those old men and women who talk in a drawling voice.

In this large office, there is only a huge piano. After taking a look at the label, it should be Steinway B211.

The lid of the piano was not opened, because there were many music scores and pencils on the lid.

Chief Wu Jianhai, an acquaintance of Chen Qiu, was standing beside the piano, drawing something on the music score with a pencil in his hand.

When he saw Chen Qiu coming, he nodded slightly and spoke slowly.

"Oh, it's Commander Chen and Professor Li. I didn't expect you to come so early. But since you're here, has Commander Chen agreed to my proposal to come and cooperate with us?"

"Well, I have already talked to Chen Qiu, and he has agreed to cooperate with the Haicheng Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra."

Li Anguo took two steps forward, walked to the two people beside the piano, and said to Chen Qiu.

"I don't need to introduce Chief Wu Jianhai, so I'll mainly introduce this person to you. This person is the stage director of the Haicheng Song and Dance Theater Symphony Orchestra Dance Troupe, the Qi Min I just told you about."

Standing between Chief Wu Jianhai and Professor Li Anguo, there was a man about 60 years old, with gray hair, a constant smile on his face, and his eyes were so smiling that they were almost invisible. He looked at Chen Qiu, smiled and nodded at Chen Qiu, and spoke.

"Commander Chen Qiu, right? I heard about you from Old Wu and Old Li. I've heard of your reputation for a long time, and I've always wondered when I'd have the chance to meet you to see if you're really as capable as they said. I didn't expect to see you now. It's true, seeing is believing, seeing is believing!"

He took two steps forward, walked to Chen Qiu's side, looked Chen Qiu up and down, then stretched out his hand with a smile on his face.

"Conductor Chen, you are more handsome and cool than I thought. It's true that young people are born with talent. If China had young conductors like you, then our Chinese symphony would be saved!" "If all Chinese music conductors were like Chen Qiu, then we would still be in this situation now, being suppressed by that old bastard Yu Tu?"

Wu Jianhai spat coldly and said to Qi Min.

"Qi Min, don't try to test Conductor Chen Qiu here. Conductor Chen Qiu is much better than you think. He is also a better person than you think. So don't do anything nonsense. We are here to cooperate with your Haicheng Opera House. If we can cooperate, we will cooperate. If not, we will go to the Haicheng Ballet Company. Although their strength is average, it is obvious that you are not indispensable."

"Hahaha, Old Wu, don't be so sarcastic here. We have been working together for so many years, I don't know what to do."

Qi Min gently released Chen Qiu's hand, then walked to Wu Jianhai, looked at him with a smile, and said slowly.

"Don't worry, I will definitely do what I should do, and I won't do anything I shouldn't do. We will cooperate like before, and there won't be any weird things."

"hope so."

Wu Jianhai glanced at Qi Min and didn't say anything. Instead, he picked up the music scores in front of them and handed them to Chen Qiudao.

"Chen Qiu, take these sheet music. We have discussed this. Regarding the rehearsal of this year's big play, The Marriage of Figaro, Qi Min is in charge of the stage design. I was originally in charge of the orchestra, but this time, I want to give you the authority to be in charge of everything in the orchestra. Can you do it?"

Chen Qiu took the music score from Wu Jianhai's hand, and looked at the slightly indifferent Wu Jianhai, the always smiling Qi Min, and Professor Li Anguo who stood aside with an expressionless face as if he didn't exist. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and spoke.

"Of course, I have no problem with that. But for the vocal part, am I responsible for it, or is it the stage director, Teacher Qi Min?"

"It's up to you. Normally, I should be in charge of this, but if Chen Qiu feels that there is no problem with you taking over the vocal part, then I can hand it over to you."

Qi Min looked at Chen Qiu with a smile and grinned.

"After all, less trouble is worse than more trouble. If Chen Qiu can get everything done under your command, I will also be happy and free, don't you think?"

"Yeah, that's true."

Chen Qiu looked at the smiling Qi Min, without any expression on his face.

From the attitudes of the two people beside him, he could feel that Qi Min was not as kind as he appeared.

And this time, the cooperation between Haicheng Radio Symphony Orchestra and Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra does not seem to be a very simple one.

With Haicheng Opera House moving towards the top 2 in Haicheng and Haicheng Broadcasting gradually slipping towards the sixth place in Haicheng...

There seems to be an additional hidden story behind this collaboration.

Chen Qiu didn't know.

But he didn't need to know.

The feud between the Haicheng Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and the Haicheng Opera House Symphony Orchestra has nothing to do with him.

After all, he is the conductor of the Harmony Symphony Orchestra, not Haicheng Radio.

Even if Haicheng Radio gave him a chance and let Chen Qiu bring everyone from the Harmony Symphony Orchestra to perform with them, Chen Qiu would not feel a sense of belonging to Haicheng Radio.

At most, it made Chen Qiu feel somewhat favorable towards Haicheng Radio.

To the best of your ability, help with a Haicheng Radio Symphony.

Therefore, after Chen Qiu briefly flipped through the music score in his hand, he spoke to Director Qi Min.

"Well, I've almost finished reading it. If possible, I'd like me to still be in charge of the vocal part."

"Sure, no problem." Qi Min narrowed his eyes and grinned, "As long as you want, even the stage director is yours, there is no problem."

"Forget about stage director. I don't know much about stage design."

Chen Qiu shook his head, refusing Qi Min's conducting, then waved the music score in his hand and spoke to Qi Min, the conductor.

"But since I'm the person in charge of vocal music now, I want to go over and take a look at the leading male and female characters of this opera, as well as the supporting roles. There shouldn't be any problem with that, right?"

"Of course!"

Qi Min smiled and nodded.

He glanced at Wu Jianhai beside him, and his eyes, which were already smiling so much that they could not be seen, narrowed again, and then he said to Chen Qiu.

"I will call on all the leading male and female actors in the orchestra to come over and audition with Chen Qiu directing you."

Chen Qiu nodded: "Then please."

"polite."

Qi Min waved his hand, then left the office with a smile, not knowing where he was going.

Chen Qiu looked at Chief Wu Jianhai beside him and spoke to him.

"Chief Wu, your cooperation with Haicheng Song and Dance Theater this time should not be as simple as it seems, right?"

"..."

Wu Jianhai didn't say anything, just looked gloomy.

After a long while, he looked at Chen Qiu and shook his head at him.

"You don't have to worry about this. This is a matter between Haicheng Radio and Haicheng Opera House. It has nothing to do with you. You just need to conduct this annual drama well. Don't worry about anything else. I won't let those things affect you."

"Is that so?"

Chen Qiu looked at Wu Jianhai, touched his chin, and said nothing.

Just when his gaze was so strong that Wu Jianhai frowned and felt a little uncomfortable, Chen Qiu smiled and said.

"Okay, in that case, I won't bother with these matters. But I must say that even though I appear cheerful every day, I am very strict with music. If I were really to be the conductor of the opera, I would be stricter than when I conducted you at the Spring Festival Gala."

"Well, that's not a problem." Wu Jianhai shook his head and said to Chen Qiu, "I only have one request of you, that is, to conduct this performance well!"

"Of course!"

Chen Qiu grinned.

While the two were talking, Qi Min knocked on the door, and without waiting for the people inside to respond, he opened the door and smiled at Chen Qiu and others.

"Well, I've asked the orchestra to get ready. They're all waiting in the rehearsal room. We can start at any time. Chen Qiu is the conductor. What do you think?"

"Okay, since you are ready, let's go directly."

Chen Qiu looked at Qi Min meaningfully, and without saying much, he took Wu Jianhai and Professor Li Anguo, followed Director Qi Min, went down the stairs, turned a few corners, and came to the rehearsal hall at the back of the building.

Pushing open the heavy and huge double doors, the full view of the rehearsal hall appeared in front of Chen Qiu.

A pale yellow decoration very similar to the Harmony Symphony Orchestra covers the entire room.

In the middle of the room, there is a huge Steinway D274. A group of middle-aged uncles and aunts in casual clothes are standing there, chatting and laughing.

After Chen Qiu, Director Qi Min, Chief Wu Jianhai, and Professor Li Anguo came in, there was no pause. They just greeted them with a smile and continued to chat about their own topics.

Until Chen Qiu and Qi Min stood beside the piano.

Qi Min coughed slightly, lowered everyone's voices a little, and then spoke to everyone.

"Ahem, well, the person next to me is the conductor of this vocal performance, the conductor of the Haicheng Harmony Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Chen Qiu! Welcome everyone!"

Wow!
There was a burst of applause from the crowd.

At this time, Qi Min also took two steps back and gave the stage to Chen Qiu.

Chen Qiu stood in the middle of the stage, looked at the expressions of the people around him, sighed slowly, and said to everyone.

"Hello, I am Chen Qiu, the conductor of the opera The Marriage of Figaro. I am very happy to cooperate with you in the future. I hope to complete this pearl in the history of opera with you!"

After saying that, Chen Qiu took two steps forward, threw the music score casually on the music stand, then sat on the piano bench in front of everyone. After adjusting the bench slightly, he said to everyone.

"Okay, so that we can work together better in the future, I want to get to know your level and see if you can perform your respective roles."

"Then……"

Chen Qiu's gaze gradually became sharper, and he spoke slowly to everyone.

"Which of you comes first?"

(End of this chapter)