Chapter 206: The Piano Performance
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Boss, you’re here!” As Zhou Chao and his group entered the banquet hall, they were greeted by the cruise’s first officer, Lambo, who was responsible for receiving guests at the entrance.
“Is everything arranged?”
“Everything is already set up, please come this way,” replied Lambo, leading them to the front row. Their arrival attracted many curious glances.
The Independence of the Seas had embarked from Europe, so most of the people on board were foreigners. The conspicuous faces of Zhou Chao’s group, combined with their front-row seats, made them even more noticeable.
Onstage, a Steinway piano in black and white was placed, ready to become the center of attention.
Soon, a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit walked to the center of the stage. It was none other than Captain Bieber!
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ocean Independence’s Piano Night. Now, let us enjoy an auditory feast together. Please welcome our first pianist, Professor Tom from the Curtis Institute! He will be performing Chopin’s First Ballade. Let’s give him a warm applause!”
Applause filled the room as Zhou Chao and his companions clapped in approval. A middle-aged foreign man in a tailcoat emerged from behind the curtains. His pace was neither fast nor slow but had a rhythmic quality, perhaps a habit of a musician.
Professor Tom walked to the center of the stage and gave a courteous bow to the audience. He then sat at the piano, his fingers resting on the keys, and took a deep breath.
“Dang…”
A profoundly deep bass note resounded, followed by a succession of notes that gradually ascended from the foundation set by the initial deep note, rising from the low register to the high.
The first segment was concise and centered around the main theme. It created an intensely tense atmosphere through the reinforcement of unstable tones, stark contrasts in sound intensity, and a dense dissonance in the harmony.
Zhou Chao couldn’t help but marvel at the top-notch piano professor. If it weren’t for his previous mastery of musical skills, he might have simply sat and listened without analyzing the nuances of the piano piece.
Next, Professor Tom began the second segment, transforming the piece with powerful dynamics and full harmonies. He completely erased the gentle and lyrical colors, infusing them with vitality and excitement. This segment could be considered a climax of the entire composition, symbolizing heroism and triumph.
The final third segment was more like a rushing musical stream, an unstoppable surge of music. Lightning-fast rhythms, accompanied by strong bass, kept the audience’s tension escalating.
As the piece concluded, the banquet hall erupted into deafening applause. Even Li Yang and the others joined in with a more enthusiastic round of applause than before. This was the charm of music!
Next, five more pianists took the stage one after the other, each showcasing their piano pieces. However, to Zhou Chao’s discerning ear, none of them quite matched the caliber of Professor Tom.
Of course, this was understandable. After all, this journey might not have featured any world-class pianists, but the auditory delight they were experiencing now was still quite remarkable for everyone present.
However, when the final pianist appeared, Li Yang and the others stood up and applauded.
“It’s actually Qin Lang! He’s one of the few pianists from our Huaxia country who can compete on the international stage. I never expected him to be the grand finale!”
“I really didn’t expect it either. This trip has been truly rewarding! We’ll have plenty to brag about when we return to our homeland!”
The entire banquet hall buzzed with discussions, both from those in China and abroad. Even Zhou Chao, who wasn’t particularly interested in the music scene, couldn’t help but show curiosity. Just who was this pianist?
“Ding.” A clear note resonated throughout the banquet hall under the guidance of Qin Lang’s hands, creating a remarkably tranquil atmosphere.
“Goteborg Variations!” That was the title of the piece that flashed in Zhou Chao’s mind, the composition being performed by Qin Lang.
The music was elegant and graceful, akin to a young maiden in her prime, gracefully dancing in flowing attire.
As Qin Lang’s fingertips danced across the keys, his body swayed in harmony. Even from a distance, one could sense his joy. The entire banquet hall was filled with these elegant notes, as if Qin Lang were waltzing with them.
The piano notes fell like raindrops, striking the hearts of every audience member.
Within the joy, there was an abundance of tenderness.
Soon, the piece neared its conclusion. As the final note faded away, Qin Lang returned from his musical reverie. The audience rose to their feet, applauding in response to Qin Lang’s performance.
After a while, the applause gradually subsided until it faded into silence. Then, Captain Bieber stepped forward with his characteristic large strides.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the Independence of the Seas, joyful moments are always short-lived. Let us once again give our applause to our pianists. The evening’s banquet comes to an end, and you are free to retire for the night!”
As Bieber announced the conclusion, people in the banquet hall slowly began to make their way outside. Li Yang was about to get up when Zhou Chao, sitting next to him, spoke up, “Wait a moment; let everyone else leave.”
Li Yang and Li Hao nodded in agreement, and the group started chatting. Meanwhile, Zhou Chao closed his eyes to rest, and Jiang Li didn’t disturb him. Instead, she listened attentively to Li Yang and the others sharing their music experience.
Before long, the entire banquet hall was left with only the six of them and Bieber.
“Boss, everyone has left,” Bieber said quietly.
Zhou Chao heard this and opened his eyes, fixing them directly on the Steinway piano on the stage.
“Wait for me down there!” Zhou Chao said as he got up and walked towards the stage, reaching the piano.
The people in the audience watched Zhou Chao, assuming he wanted to get a closer look and feel the instrument.
However, in the next moment, a series of notes sounded from the piano on stage, and everyone looked at Zhou Chao in surprise. If there were any experts present, they would recognize that Zhou Chao was tuning the piano.
But even those who understood were still amazed because most piano players don’t tune their own instruments. Piano tuning is usually done by professional piano tuners.
The piano’s melody filled the air as the notes flowed effortlessly from Zhou Chao’s fingertips. He played Jay Chou’s “White Balloon”, and the sweet and melodic tune lingered in the ears of Jiang Li and the other women, immersing them in a sweet reverie.
As the song came to an end, Zhou Chao, wearing a satisfied smile, rose from the piano seat and walked down towards Jiang Li and the others.
“Wow, you’re amazing! I feel like you played even better than those earlier performers!” Li Yang exclaimed, impressed.
“I know a lot of things,” Zhou Chao replied with a hint of pride. Jiang Li, on the other hand, clasped her arm around Zhou Chao’s and wore a playful expression.
“All right, it’s getting late. Let’s go. Bieber, sorry to have kept you waiting!”
“No problem, boss! Hearing such beautiful melodies is worth a little delay,” Bieber replied.
With that, Zhou Chao and his group bid farewell to Bieber and headed out of the banquet hall..