32. The Hunt
◎Classics Never Die◎
As the day of her departure for the United States drew closer, Liang Chuling found herself somewhat listless.
Her suitcase had been lying in the corner of the room for several days. She threw a few clothes in it, but then felt annoyed and dragged it out to reorganize it.
While eating, Liang Chuling looked at the Schengen visa application form sent by Li Xun, and her mother slapped her hand: "Eat properly, and look at your phone after you finish eating."
"oh……"
Ms. Ma was also curious: "What are you looking at so intently?"
"I'm looking at my Norwegian visa; I'm planning to go to the Arctic with Li Xun."
"Oh~" Ms. Ma cheered, but didn't ask any further questions.
The Northern Lights, Longyearbyen, jellyfish… these words, which not long ago could make Liang Chuling's heart race, now seemed hazy and indistinct. They weighed on her interest, making her lose all enthusiasm for the journey.
When Li Xun came to check on Li Zi, he noticed something was wrong with her and reached out to touch her forehead: "You don't have a fever. Why are you so listless?"
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired," Liang Chuling told Li Xun, unable to express the complex emotions she was feeling.
At the same time, the two received the registration results for that top international tournament, and both of them qualified. This means they will travel to Poland together to compete this October.
It was indeed good news, and had nothing to do with any third party. Liang Chuling finally cheered up and gave Li Xun a high five.
--
Li Chi was waiting for them in Philadelphia. This time, when the two of them went there, Li Chi planned to take them for a tour of the East Coast.
Li Chi has been extremely busy lately—
She is preparing to create her own classical music orchestra.
They have ambitious plans to create a French-style orchestra composed entirely of Chinese elites.
Funding, venues, musicians, music copyrights, performance season planning... there are so many things to consider, each one could make you lose a lot of hair.
Liang Chuling and Li Xun finished smoothly. Liang Chuling confirmed her student status on the spot, while Li Xun will have to wait for notification in April.
The two of them went to Li Chi's apartment to find her, and there was almost nowhere to put their feet.
Sheet music was scattered all over the floor, and several spreadsheets were open on the computer screen at the same time, with a contact list that seemed to stretch endlessly. While answering a call from a sponsor, Li Chi gestured to Li Xun to go to the kitchen and pour her a cup of coffee.
"The French school, huh?" Liang Chuling picked up a Berlioz score from the ground and flipped through it.
She herself prefers the rigorous structure of German and Austrian piano playing and the surging passion of the Russian school. She is interested in, but not much in, the hazy light and shadow of French Impressionism.
Interestingly, everyone around Liang Chuling has an inextricable connection with the Fa sect.
Jin Xi excels at Berlioz, which is full of drama, and when interpreting Debussy, he can capture those moments of light and shadow.
Lin Jianni also prefers Debussy and Saint-Saëns, feeling that they are free.
Li Chi had just hung up the phone when he saw the sheet music in Liang Chuling's hand and said, "The difficulty of the French school lies in breath control and tone control. We Chinese performers are technically almost flawless now, but sometimes we just lack that little bit of relaxation. Finding a suitable French school musician isn't easy either..."
Li Xun handed her the coffee and replied, "Isn't Jinxi playing very well?"
Liang Chuling exclaimed in surprise, "You know Jinxi too?"
Li Xun tidied up the sofa and then let Liang Chuling sit down, somewhat speechless: "Isn't she your friend? You mention her all the time."
Liang Chuling gave an awkward laugh: "Oh, oh, oh!"
After the awkward silence, she continued Li Xun's words: "Jinxi plays very well! I'll send you her video; her playing style is very unique."
Pianists like Liang Chuling and Zhou Xu operate on a soloist logic, while orchestral performances follow a collaborative, concerto logic. Top pianists require an exceptionally refined personal style, while orchestral pianists are often relegated to supporting roles, resulting in a waste of resources for both.
Liang Chuling's thoughts drifted back to China, wondering how Lin Jianni's piano practice was going. Perhaps once Li Chi returned, she could have Lin Jianni audition?
Whether we can collaborate is another matter, but we can experience what it's like to play together.
Li Chi watched seven or eight of Jinxi's videos and thought they were quite good, possessing both the agility of the French style and the restraint of the East: "Liang Chuling, ask her if she's interested in auditioning? What I want to do is form an all-Chinese orchestra, casting a wide net."
Liang Chuling nodded: "Okay, I'll ask her. But why do you want to form an all-Chinese band?"
Li Chi drew back the curtains, revealing the coastline outside the French windows. Through the scattered items in the living room, Liang Chuling could see the tides further away.
“We are at a very interesting juncture. In the past decade, it has become almost commonplace for Chinese musicians to win major awards in top international competitions. You must have noticed this as well, right?”
Liang Chuling involuntarily sat up straighter and nodded. It was true; she herself was in that situation.
"You may be used to seeing yellow-skinned, black-eyed faces standing on the highest podiums, and you may be used to the judges calling out Chinese names. This is good, as it shows that the minds and fingers nurtured on this land have undoubtedly joined the ranks of the world's top. We have plucked the fruit from the ancient tree of classical music."
"But at the same time, it also shows that classical music is approaching the end of its life."
Liang Chuling was speechless.
Li Xun's gaze remained fixed on Liang Chuling, knowing she was captivated and temporarily forgot the annoyance brought on by those trivial matters. He felt slightly relieved and remained silent.
Li Chi continued, "Those musical powerhouses that pioneered the genre and system of classical music are now unable to cultivate top-tier musicians under the same standards. No matter how strong Chinese musicians are, they should only be able to engage in a tug-of-war with these powerhouses, sharing the spoils and going back and forth with them."
"But the current situation is more like they are leaving the stage, and we are entering it."
"Classical music, as a cultural phenomenon centered on Europe, has passed its most vigorous period of flourishing. It has found new fertile ground in the East, where it will continue to thrive and blossom in different ways. Decades? A hundred years? It's all possible. But every civilization has its ebb and flow." "Ultimately, we too will exit the stage."
Liang Chuling couldn't help but ask, "Then will classical music die?"
“Death?” Li Chi shook his head. “Not necessarily. But it will be moved. When it is moved to another place, when that time comes, all that we are familiar with and have dedicated ourselves to today may become, like the polyphonic music of the Renaissance, an extremely brilliant but fixed era specimen in the history of human art, and eventually become art in museums, for future generations to marvel at its perfection and complexity.”
The distant sounds of traffic could be heard from inside the house, like background noise of an era.
Liang Chuling was deeply shaken. She had never thought about the cause she had devoted herself to from this perspective before.
I couldn't help but look at Li Xun, who had a smile on his face—
But he was observing her.
Liang Chuling immediately turned her head away again!
Li Chi said with a touch of nostalgia, “Classical music is the foundation of my life. But I must admit that only a very few of its true gems, those that can resonate with the human soul in any era, are truly exceptional. Most works are ultimately echoes of their specific time.”
"This is the reality of the evolution of art. All we can do is to perform it to the fullest and express it sincerely while it is still fresh, and then calmly watch it move to the next stage."
"I want to do more. In this prosperous period, I want to play the most sincere music that we can understand in a Chinese way. Then, perhaps one day, I can calmly watch it sail into the depths of history, becoming a quiet and brilliant backdrop under the beacon for those who come after."
Liang Chuling remained motionless for a long time, and Li Xun did not disturb her.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the ebb and flow of the tides mirror the fate of classical music, a cycle that repeats itself yet subtly changes.
Liang Chuling saw a broader and more fateful picture. Even the greatest individuals appear insignificant before the long river of music's life. And the notes flowing from her hands are both part of this dusty realm and part of that grand tide of sound.
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