Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Rossini, William Tell Overture (2)
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The concert was just around the corner.
Most of the minor events in the capital were managed by the church, but after explaining the situation, permission was granted immediately.
I asked Edward to move the piano from the theater to the middle of the square.
A simple stage was set up, and thanks to Count Harborland's efforts, we were even able to create a makeshift audience seating area.
It looked quite impressive.
Moreover, in this world, there was magic that amplified sound, so measures were taken to ensure the piano sound could reach even those far away.
Originally, it was magic used for speeches, but whatever.
There were a few tragic news items, however.
"Count Periton has completely blocked access to his domain."
"You can't be serious."
"I suppose they're afraid people will come to see the young master's concert."
"Is he out of his mind?"
I thought I had come up with a pretty clever plan, but there were others who were even worse.
While there is a hierarchy of class that can't be argued with, this seemed a bit too much.
They must be terribly offended.
Since they felt a bit awkward wearing commoner clothes, they decided to just control the commoners instead.
They didn't want to be the only ones feeling miserable.
"This is such a headache."
But the situation was resolved in an unexpected way.
"I heard the head of the Periton family and his son have been imprisoned."
"Pardon?"
I heard the news from my father.
"I heard they tried to slander His Highness the Crown Prince. They were despicable people. They oppressed their subjects and raked in dirty money. I knew this would happen someday."
It was an unexpected twist.
Thanks to that, no other lords followed their example and blocked commoners from entering their domains.
I couldn't figure out the exact details, but regardless, it was good news for me.
The concert was just one day away.
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An unbelievable, enormous crowd began to gather in the capital's square.
It was a magnificent sight born from the curiosity about the performer's identity and the commoners' anticipation of finally getting to experience music.
"I feel like my heart is going to burst!"
"Hearts don't burst that easily."
Young female laborers dressed in tunics ran cheerfully to secure their spots.
Once again, it was first-come, first-served.
Those who arrived first could sit in the front.
The girls' eyes caught one person.
"Wow."
Even though she was dressed in commoner clothes, her elegance could not be hidden.
Her shimmering black hair and glossy skin.
Her vibrant red eyes sparkled like the midsummer sun.
Though she covered half her face, her classic beauty was unmistakable.
The girl next to her was just as captivating.
Her sitting posture alone was extraordinary.
A beauty of stillness itself.
The two seemed to be sisters.
"Who are they?"
"I'm more curious about when they got here to secure the front-row seats."
A little later.
The square became packed to capacity.
Naturally, there were no chairs left, and it was uncomfortable even to stand still.
"Over here!"
Nearby merchants opened their shops.
They offered their terraces for a small fee.
Thanks to that, everyone could find a spot without any trouble.
As the sunset began to slowly set, one person climbed onto the stage.
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I learned something from the Polonaise incident.
The Crown Prince had no reaction when I originally played "Clair de Lune," but he finally applauded and responded when he heard Chopin's piece.
Everyone has their own tastes.
It was the same in my past life.
No matter how much you like a performer, if they don't play the song you were expecting, you feel like something is missing.
Performances are ultimately for the audience.
You have to present the music the audience wants and give them satisfaction.
A good experience gives birth to good inspiration, and eventually leads to good results.
"For that reason."
I had to select music that as many people as possible could enjoy.
It wasn't a difficult task.
I had already picked one out since I first planned this concert.
Rossini, William Tell Overture.
An opera reinterpreted by the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, based on the story of the legendary master archer William Tell, who shot an apple off his son's head with perfect accuracy.
The performance from its finale is so famous that no one is unfamiliar with it.
There is also a version arranged for piano.
Incidentally, the name of this arranger is Franz Liszt.
The completeness goes without saying.
He perfectly reproduced the intense, dynamic opera music with just a single piano.
This is the song I will play today.
Liszt's William Tell.
True to his reputation as the king of the piano and famous for his technique, this piece also boasts a hellish difficulty.
But it's fine.
It's so addictive that it's hard to forget easily, and I've already implemented the score in advance.
It was impossible to start from scratch, so I practiced diligently.
I changed the overly difficult parts to a more manageable degree.
I was certain.
'No one will hate this.'
I exchanged a glance with Edward and headed for the stage.
"I look forward to your performance."
"You won't be disappointed."
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"Waaaah!"
The audience's cheers surged like a wave.
There is an unwritten rule not to make noise during a concert, but who cares about that right now.
If I were worried about things like that, I wouldn't have set up a stage in the square in the first place.
Anyway, the crowd was immense.
They each wore tunics of various colors and waved their hands to greet me.
A fair number of them tilted their heads, expressing confusion.
'Definitely.'
The cheering audience was mostly commoners.
They had never seen the Crown Prince up close.
There was a concern that they might mistake me for the Crown Prince.
The nobles, who knew the Crown Prince's face, were reacting differently.
"Who is that guy?"
"I thought His Highness the Crown Prince was supposed to come out?"
First, I should at least greet them to clear up the situation.
They say bowing is the standard, right?
After that, I gestured to Edward.
I received the magic tome from him.
As I placed my hand on the cover, I felt my breathing gradually grow heavier.
Anyone can wield magic if they have a magic tome.
It's quite convenient.
"Hello. I am Anton Tilberg, the eldest son of the Tilberg family."
I offered a short greeting.
"Tilberg? Are you referring to the barony near the capital?"
A few people recognized me.
But they were a minority, and most seemed to be hearing the word "Tilberg" for the first time.
Well, no one would go around memorizing the name of a mere baron's family.
Will I be criticized?
I'm prepared to accept it.
"Waaaah!"
"Anton! Anton!"
However, the reaction was different from what I expected.
'What is this?'
It felt as if they didn't care whether I revealed my identity or not.
In fact, the cheers seemed even louder than before.
'That's how it is.'
Thinking about it, there seemed to be a reason for this.
To the commoners, a Crown Prince and the son of a baron are all the same.
It has nothing to do with their own lives.
The performer's status?
That's not a problem for them.
There's nothing to be gained by worrying about it.
The only important thing is the fact that they can listen to music.
So they don't argue about my identity.
Very good.
Since the commoners didn't stop cheering, the nobles who were confused began to ignore it too.
"Yeah! What does it matter if he's Anton or Auton!"
Overwhelmed by the heated response, I quickly lowered my voice and went to sit in front of the piano.
Now it's time to show them with my performance.
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From the very beginning, a lively, fast-tempo melody bursts forth.
An intro that instantly captures the audience's ears and raises the atmosphere.
"Ooh!"
Fingers dance on the keyboard, creating a dynamic melody.
The intense rhythm is like a cavalry march translated into music, giving a sense of urgency and excitement.
The audience responds by moving their bodies.
The simple, clear melody and the heart-pounding tempo quickly turned the square into a festive mood.
Then, the volume begins to decrease all at once.
Decrescendo.
Elegant and lyrical, but gradually building up, as if hinting at the highlight to come later.
Before long.
Emotions explode like a supernova and sweep through.
The bouncing arpeggios and heavy bass harmony.
As befits an opera music arranged for solo piano, it feels like multiple instruments are mixed together, heading toward the finale.
"Ooh!"
"I can't stand this!"
Unable to contain their excitement, the audience got up from their seats one by two.
The seats prepared to replicate the theater were now meaningless.
Those who were mesmerized by the dazzling technique that spread like fireworks even started waving their arms and dancing.
There's no law that says you have to sit and watch politely at a concert.
Especially on an outdoor stage like this, you can express your joy as much as you want.
In fact, it's more enjoyable for the performer as well.
The audience, intoxicated by the heightened excitement, smiled with flushed faces.
Then came the finale.
By pressing the final key, I put a period to the harmony of chaos and fervor.
"Waaaah!"
A roar of cheers erupted all at once.
Everyone gave a standing ovation with lively gestures.
Some even threw bouquets of flowers onto the stage.
A new culture called classical music, presented to those whose only experience with music had been work songs sung by mouth.
"Thank you!"
I wanted to play an encore, but I didn't have any other songs prepared.
The only other pieces I could play comfortably were Mozart's Piano Sonata and Clair de Lune, but those were out of the question.
They would surely ruin the high atmosphere I had worked so hard to build.
After a short bow, I got off the stage.
"That was truly a wonderful performance!"
Edward, who had been waiting, greeted me.
"I feel like I'm going to die."
I collapsed right in front of him.
Even though I had practiced, the exhaustion was unavoidable.
A hellish difficulty that required speed as well as accuracy.
I didn't even pull it off perfectly.
'How many wrong notes did I hit?'
Probably too many to count.
This time too, I just pushed through with momentum.
The audience didn't seem to notice, and they probably hadn't heard the original piece before anyway...
But I wasn't satisfied myself.
'I need more practice.'
Anyway.
"Edward."
"Yes!"
"Please take me home."
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Less than a day passed.
Visitors to my domain began to run rampant.
"Anton, my boy? Could you teach my daughter the piano?"