Chapter 485 : The Godfather of Music – Quentin
Chapter 485: The Godfather of Music – Quentin
As he spoke, an elderly man wearing a neatly pressed suit and a monocle slowly rose from beside David-Berg. His figure was thin, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties, yet his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
"So that’s the famous composer, Master Quentin-Lycente? I can’t believe the Nightingale Opera Troupe actually managed to invite him here."
Quentin-Lycente, currently the chief musician of the Dordogne Tulip Opera House, was also a top-tier composer known by the title of the “Godfather of Music.”
For such a towering figure in the world of music, Janna truly could not fathom why someone of his status would condescend to compose an opera for the Nightingale Opera Troupe.
"I didn’t expect that Captain Roman would actually know Master Quentin personally."
Watching Quentin-Lycente walk toward the piano in the rehearsal hall, Liji Silks, who had also long admired his name, couldn’t help but whisper in astonishment.
"You mean Master Quentin was invited here through Captain Roman’s personal connections?"
Hearing Liji Silks’s exclamation, Janna, who shared the same suspicion, leaned close to her ear and asked softly.
"That’s right—though I always thought Director David was bragging. But to think... it’s actually true."
While Janna and Liji Silks whispered quietly to each other, Quentin-Lycente calmly seated himself before the piano.
"Which part shall we start from?"
Already seated before the piano, Quentin-Lycente flipped open the music score and turned slightly to ask David-Berg, who stood not far away.
"Master Quentin, let’s start with the solo piece from 【Elizabeth】 first—oh right, Janna, didn’t you also compose a few solo pieces related to 【Isabelle】? Once Master Quentin finishes playing, why don’t you play them for us as well?"
Miss Janna can compose music too?
Upon hearing David-Berg’s words, everyone present—except for Liji Silks and Shuka-Berg, who already knew—turned their gazes toward Janna, whether they were familiar with her or not.
"Didn’t expect to meet a fellow musician here, and such a young and beautiful lady at that—well then,"
He chuckled lightly, his tone both teasing and amiable.
"We’ll have to ‘exchange notes’ properly later."
When Quentin-Lycente learned that, aside from himself, there was another “performer” who would also be presenting a new composition, he first turned his head slightly and gave Janna a quick glance before sighing gently with a mild and polite tone.
"I wouldn’t dare to claim such honor—just hoping that the maestro might offer me some guidance later."
"No problem."
Hearing Janna’s request, Quentin-Lycente continued smiling as he nodded slightly, then turned his gaze toward the sheet music resting on the piano.
"Master Quentin’s temper doesn’t seem as volatile as the rumors make it out to be."
Watching Quentin-Lycente’s rather agreeable demeanor, Liji Silks, who was sitting beside Janna, couldn’t help whispering softly into her ear.
"After all, they’re just rumors—not necessarily true."
According to the rumors, Quentin-Lycente was notorious for his fiery temper, prone to smashing pianos whenever something displeased him.
It was said that he had already broken more than a dozen pianos this way.
Yet, judging from Quentin-Lycente’s behavior today, he showed none of that legendary rage—instead, he appeared rather composed and gentle.
Of course, that gentleness might only have been on the surface. Naturally sensitive to emotional fluctuations, Janna had already sensed, during their earlier conversation, the subtle trace of indifference hidden beneath his calm exterior.
That indifference became especially apparent when Quentin-Lycente had first looked her over.
In truth, not only Quentin-Lycente but even those familiar with Janna—such as Liji Silks and her "recommender," David-Berg—had shown traces of disbelief upon hearing that she had prepared an original piece of her own.
It wasn’t that they held any personal bias against Janna; rather, it was because she had never before displayed any notable talent in musical composition.
Not to mention the rest of the troupe—none of them truly believed that Janna could compose a genuine piece of music.
Even if she had indeed written one, when compared to a world-renowned composer like Quentin-Lycente, the gap between them would surely be as vast as an unbridgeable chasm.
Still, because of Janna’s status—second only to the troupe leader and director—and also due to the fondness most members held for her, no one dared to show the slightest trace of doubt on their faces, maintaining a silent and perfect "tacit understanding."
As the powerful piano prelude began to surge through the hall, Quentin-Lycente’s performance commenced.
In Withering Rose, where the protagonist 【Isabelle】 held the most scenes, her parts involved many vocal performances—but true solo segments were limited to only three.
They were, respectively, 【Isabelle】’s first appearance in Heaven as a wingless angel, her despairing monologue after being imprisoned and falling into a Black Angel in Purgatory, and finally, her last words before “suicide” after personally slaying the Lord of Heaven 【Augustine】.
These three solo pieces by 【Isabelle】ran through the entire story from beginning to end—both the climax and the soul of the performance.
Therefore, aside from the actor’s own expression, a melody that resonated perfectly with the character’s inner emotions was also an extremely important element.
"Zheng, zheng—yi, yi"
The first piece performed by Quentin-Lycente was exactly 【Isabelle】’s solo song from her debut scene. Although the melody was powerful and full of grandeur, it did not lose its solemn and sacred tone.
Merely hearing the melody made one unconsciously feel a reverent solemnity, as though that unattainable Heaven had truly manifested before everyone’s eyes.
"As expected of Master Quentin—just the protagonist’s opening song is enough to instantly capture the ears of all the listeners. Listening to it gives me the urge to kneel and worship... only, the style seems somewhat similar to certain church hymns in its melody."
Upon hearing that, Janna-Roland did not speak, but she felt the same inwardly.
After all, 【Isabelle】was one of the most powerful angels in Heaven, and since her first appearance took place in what countless believers regarded as a sacred land—Heaven itself—it was inevitable that the melody and tone of her song leaned toward the solemn and sacred, naturally overlapping with many hymns sung in churches.
"Zheng, zheng——"
As 【Isabelle】’s first solo ended, Quentin-Lycente immediately began playing the second solo—The Fallen Angel.
Compared to the solemnity of the first, the second piece’s melody was still impassioned, yet filled with numerous low, urgent, and oppressive notes.