The God of Conducting Starting from Absolute Pitch

Chapter 332 The Marriage of Figaro
When the audience entered the venue, the backstage of the stage performance was also noisy and chaotic.

Continue to rehearse before the performance to ensure that you will not make any mistakes when performing.

Changing clothes backstage, preparing for the stage costumes.

There are also people sitting around the makeup mirror, waiting for the makeup artist to put on makeup for them.

There were crowds of people sitting together, and it was much noisier than outside the concert hall.

Chen Qiu and some people from the orchestra also came to the dressing room, waiting for the makeup artist to do their makeup.

It’s different from when I was in the Harmony Symphony Orchestra before.

The space inside the Harmony Symphony Orchestra is a little small, and everyone's makeup is relatively simple, just slightly emphasizing the facial features, that's all, so each person's makeup time may only be about ten minutes, or even shorter.

As Huang Xin became more and more proficient in stage makeup techniques, the time she spent on makeup became shorter and shorter. She could even bring some other girls in the band to do makeup together, with three or four people doing it together, instead of having to do it one by one.

Now in this large orchestra, there are many professional makeup artists. It is not a big problem to have more than ten or twenty people sitting in a row and doing makeup together. Every makeup artist is not an amateur like Huang Xin, but a professional makeup artist, and each one is more skilled than the other in stage makeup.

They can even do makeup for four or five people at the same time while chatting with others, appearing to be extremely comfortable with the job.

Seeing how skilled these makeup artists were, Chen Qiu couldn't help but feel moved. He poked Qin Xian, who was also done with his makeup, and asked him.

"Hey, what do you think if we hire a makeup artist like this to do our makeup for future performances?"

“I don’t think it’s going to work.”

Qin Xian, like Chen Qiu, sat a little awkwardly among the group of people who had just finished putting on their makeup, looking at the busy makeup artists and whispered.

"I just heard from Li Miaomiao that this group of makeup artists are outsourced. They specialize in stage makeup, and the price they charge for outsourcing is very high. For example, for a proper performance, the price is basically around a thousand yuan. This is still a relatively small scale. If it is a large-scale one, their price for one night may be tens of thousands."

"That's it..."

Chen Qiu instantly gave up the idea of ​​finding a professional makeup artist and observed a second of silence for Huang Xin in his heart.

The orchestra has no money, so Huang Xin has to bear more of the responsibility. I hope she won't quit because the orchestra pays her too little.

Not long after, more and more people from the orchestra finished their makeup, gathered around Chen Qiu and chatted in low voices, and then were driven away by the makeup artists to let in the group from the Haicheng Opera House.

There is no way. The makeup of the band is still simple. Everyone just needs to wear a black suit and do a simple stage makeup.

Therefore, it only took about forty minutes for all the members of the orchestra to finish their makeup.

It's not just Chen Qiu and his group from the Harmony Symphony Orchestra, the same is true for the Haicheng Radio Symphony Orchestra next door.

Seeing that the makeup artists didn't let them mess up in the dressing room, they could only chat while walking towards the stage.

Different from previous performances.

In previous performances, the stage was empty before the performance began. After the performance officially began, the musicians entered the stage at once, tuned the instruments, and the conductor entered the stage.

Now, the musicians first go to the orchestra pit to prepare and tune the instruments, and then wait for the performance to begin, the conductor to enter, and the performance officially begins.

The process before the show starts is a little less complicated.

Chen Qiu felt that it was not a good idea for him to stand alone in the backstage and stare blankly, so before the performance began, he ran to the orchestra pit and chatted casually with some people in the orchestra for a while. From time to time, everyone burst into laughter, which made the audience who had just entered the venue extremely curious about what was happening in the orchestra pit.

Unfortunately, because the orchestra pit was blocked, in order to allow the audience to focus more on the performance rather than the performers, they could not see clearly.

Especially when Chen Qiu himself was sitting on the podium instead of standing on it.

They couldn't even see Chen Qiu in the orchestra pit.

Chen Qiu chatted with everyone for a while and found that the performance was getting closer and closer and the backstage had already started to get busy. He smiled and greeted everyone and went to the backstage.

At this moment, the actors backstage are all ready.

They were standing there, listening to Director Qi Min's whispered scolding.

Qi Min quickly noticed Chen Qiu's arrival, nodded slightly at him, and said casually.

"came back?"

"Well, how are your preparations going?"

"What can we do? The makeup is done, and we've rehearsed before the rehearsal. The props team just came on stage to confirm that there are no problems with the props. There shouldn't be any stage accidents..."

Speaking of stage accidents, Qi Min paused for a moment, looked at the actors, and frowned at them.

"By the way, if you look back and find that there are problems with some of the props in the performance, such as ladders, pulleys, beds, etc., if there are problems, don't force it and give up on the completion. Everything depends on your safety. Do you hear me?"

"Okay, Director Qi Min, there will be no problem!"

Someone nearby said jokingly.

"Our monthly salary is only 5,000 or 6,000 yuan, not tens of thousands of yuan. Why should we risk our lives?"

"That's right, Director Qi Min, don't worry. Our love for the orchestra is not that deep. This stage won't make us work our lives for the orchestra."

"well said!"

"..."

Qi Min frowned when he heard this.

He didn't understand why this group of people sounded like they were giving him assurances, but why were the words so harsh?

But he glanced at the time on the side and found that it was almost time, so he clapped his hands to everyone and spoke loudly.

"Okay, there's nothing else to add. Everyone, please take your positions and wait for the signal from Commander Chen Qiu. Commander Chen Qiu, do you have anything else to say?"

"Gone."

Chen Qiu shook his head and smiled at everyone.

"You are all veteran actors, basically a generation older than me, and have experienced more salt than I have eaten rice, so I don't have any advice to give you. So... I wish you all a smooth performance!"

"How can that be true? We don't eat much salt in Haicheng! We put very little salt, how can there be more salt than in your rice!"

"That's right, you said I eat more sugar than you eat rice! I don't like salt. Eating too much salt will cause high blood pressure and other problems. It's terrible!"

"You're from Jiangzhou, right? I knew it the moment I heard you. You're from Xicheng? You told us every day that you're from Haicheng. Now you're exposed. You're the one who added sugar to the noodles?"

"Hey, what are you talking about? Can you eat noodles without sugar?"

"Support! Fight!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and didn't look nervous at all.

It's obvious that these people are all veteran actors.

Although their acting skills may not be as good as those who specialize in acting, they are the best in vocal music and opera in Haicheng.

Therefore, even if they may still be a little nervous in their hearts, experience will suppress this nervousness.

Chen Qiu looked at the tall Zhu Wenjian, smiled and stretched out his hand to him.

"Well? Our leading actor, Figaro, this performance depends on you."

"I try my best."

Zhu Wen Zhang smiled bitterly, walked forward and shook hands with Chen Qiu, then leaned forward to hug Chen Qiu, patted Chen Qiu on the back, and said seriously.

"But the rehearsals these days are really thanks to Chen Qiu's direction."

"No, it's all your credit. I'm just doing my job as a commander, doing everything I should do."

Chen Qiu shook his head, took a few steps back, looked at Qi Min beside him, and said to him.

"Okay, Director Qi Min, let's get started."

"Ok!"

Qi Min nodded, waved his hand to let everyone run in the direction they should go, took out the walkie-talkie and spoke to everyone.

"Everyone, take your positions. This is the last check. The backstage technical team will start a countdown. When it's 7 o'clock, turn off the lights, open the backstage door, and let Chen Qiu go on stage."

"Roger that!"

Chen Qiu also heard the voice of the backstage technical team through his headset.

Everyone started running busily.

The subtitles on the side of the stage confirmed it.

The stage crew confirmed the props for the final time.

Confirmation of performance costumes.

Personnel confirmation.

……

After everything was confirmed again and there were no problems, it was almost 7 o'clock.

Qi Min looked at Chen Qiu, nodded slightly at Chen Qiu, and spoke very seriously.

"Then Conductor Chen Qiu, I'll leave this performance to you!"

"Of course!"

Chen Qiu grinned.

click!
The voice of the technical team came through the headset.

At 6:58, the lights in the auditorium went out.

At 6:59, the stage lights turned on.

7 o'clock exactly.

Open in the background.

A light path from the backstage to the orchestra pit appeared. A beam of light hit Chen Qiu in front of him.

Looking ahead at the band that was expectantly watching him, Chen Qiu took a deep breath and said to Qi Min behind him.

"Then likewise, I'll leave this performance to you, Qi Min, to conduct it."

"Of course!"

Qi Min nodded.

Chen Qiu stepped out.

Accompanied by thunderous applause, Chen Qiu followed the beam of light and came to the command podium where he was conducting.

After shaking hands with Chief Wu Jianhai and Chief Qin Xian beside him, he stood on the podium.

The tracking lights went out.

Only the light on the music stand in front of Chen Qiu was still on.

Reminding everyone that there is a commander here.

Chen Qiu took a deep breath, looked at everyone in the orchestra, nodded to them, and raised the baton in his hand.

The crowd also raised their instruments.

The curtain rises.

As the baton in Chen Qiu's hand fell.

The sound of music started.

"The Marriage of Figaro" officially begins at this moment.

It's the day of Figaro's Marriage.

It was also a day of fear for His Excellency the Duke.

It officially sounded at this moment.

As the curtain opened, an old maid was seen slowly mopping the floor in the dim room.

It's like the sky before the sun rises.

As the music sounded, the door behind the maid opened.

Four servants pushed the door open with smiles on their faces, walked into the hall, and came to each window in turn.

As Chen Qiu's baton turned slightly, music like the rising sun sounded, and the four servants opened the windows on the stage at the same time.

Click.

The light spilled into the slightly dim stage and fell on the four servants.

So holy, so beautiful.

The action of opening the windows next to the stage at the same time immediately made everyone's eyes light up.

Anyone who truly understands opera should know that this seemingly simple action is carefully designed.

At the moment when the emotion of the music emerges, they open the windows in their hands at the same time, and the lights outside the windows also sweep into the house at this time.

There cannot be any deviation.

With the guidance of music, even if you just need to hit the mark, the difficulty requirement is not particularly high, but it gives people a refreshing feeling.

This opening can definitely be considered a striking first move.

However, this is not the end.

The Overture to The Marriage of Figaro does not have any aria in the opening part.

In this place, everything depends on the acting skills of everyone in the orchestra.

After opening the windows of the house, they stood together, laughing and accepting the inspection of the head butler.

The head butler straightened and adjusted their clothes with a smile so that they would be in the best condition to face their boss, the Duke.

While the male servants were checking their attire, the female servants also started to enter.

They ran quickly around the stage, cleaning the house and carrying clothes, looking extremely busy.

Compared to the leniency of the head male servant, the head female servant seemed much stricter.

A head maid with slender legs and feet like compasses stared at the running maids with eyes as sharp as scimitars, shouting at them and kicking them from time to time, asking them to run faster and not delay the Duke's business.

While the head maid was moving more, the male servants were moving much less.

After the head maid drove away all the maids, the male servants immediately started to move more frequently.

They ran quickly in the house, running towards the window behind them, as if they heard the bell outside the window.

The head butler was proud of his status and did not look at the window with them. He just smiled and slapped a few people on the back, urging them to go down quickly to help the carriage that had just arrived unload the goods needed for today.

Everyone quickly left the stage.

However, the scene did not stop there. The maid who had just left soon came back from behind the door with fresh fruits and vegetables.

It was obvious that they had just gone down to do this.

Everyone's attention soon had a new focus.

The stage was bustling with activity.

Just like cat and mouse, everyone is performing a pantomime.

But everyone could see the meaning of their actions.

One can even imagine what these people were thinking when they were doing this.

There were several naughty male servants, slim and slender maids, and fat maids carrying large items.

Several of the male servants even pushed each other, just like elementary school students, pushing one of them towards the fat maid and pretending to laugh at him.

But before the male servant could get angry, the fat female servant kicked him away with a look of disdain.

Such an interesting little drama in the overture directly attracted the interest of many audiences.

They watched everything on the stage with smiles on their faces.

Thinking in my mind what they would say while they were working.

The orchestra conducted by Chen Qiu was like a drizzle, gradually seeping into everyone's hearts and slowly flowing towards everything happening on the stage.

Many people present even forgot that the orchestra's performance was not a recording.

They even felt that everything they heard now was like the background music they saw on TV.

It doesn't seem abrupt at all, and it even makes the character's movements more reasonable and interesting.

This is Chen Qiu’s strength.

Qi Min, who was standing on the edge of the stage, couldn't help but think so.

He rubbed his chin, then picked up the intercom in his hand and whispered to the stage.

"Everyone, get ready. Figaro is about to appear. Get ready. Clear everything that needs to be cleared. Only leave what should be there. Don't attract the audience's attention."

Following his guidance.

The group of busy maids on the stage soon walked off the stage.

Only a few servants were still there.

They seemed to hear some sound again, and they leaned against the huge window again to look out, their faces full of surprise, and then they hid quietly at the door.

As the sound of the music progresses little by little.

Everyone looked towards the door expectantly.

Figaro appears in this hall as the theme of The Marriage of Figaro is followed.

He held two prosthetic limbs with a boot on top.

It is obvious that this is a prop he got specifically for making boots.

Without any hesitation, everyone rushed forward, surrounded Figaro, put their arms around his shoulders, chatted with him laughingly, rubbed his hair, then lifted him up and teased him.

Figaro was not angry, but laughed with everyone else. It was not until everyone started to take off his clothes and left him with only his underwear that Figaro became anxious and quickly struggled to break free.

However, he didn't expect that everyone was just giving him a surprise and gave him a brand new piece of clothing before leaving.

Figaro looked at the clothes in his hands and his almost naked body. He shrugged helplessly at the people below the stage, then put on the clothes given to him by the group of people, walked to the edge of the stage, and stretched.

As his body twisted.

Everyone's eyes couldn't help but stare.

They suddenly discovered that a huge scene appeared on the stage.

This scene seems to fill the entire stage.

This huge scene gradually covered the previous stage. Figaro raised his leg lightly and stood on this scene, as if crossing over layers.

Under the gaze of everyone, he straightened his clothes slightly, picked up the ruler in his hand, and sang slowly.

"five……"

(End of this chapter)