Chapter 859
Everyone’s eyes were glued on Maja, with the general consensus being that there was no way she’d get up there.
In this circle of the rich and powerful, Maja was barely a blip on the radar. If it weren’t for lan, no one would give a hoot about who she was.
Now, everyone was just waiting to see the drama unfold, throwing her smirking glances.
Shawn was on edge, but he saw Maja making her way to the stage.
Everyone was taken aback. “Is Maja off her rocker?” they wondered. If she performed now, it would be like asking for a slap in the face.
Maja’s getup tonight was not at all flashy. She was here for business, after all, so her plain makeup and attire contrasted starkly with Alma’s glitz and glam. These kinds of parties happened several times a month among the rich and famous. If it weren’t for the sake of business, Maja wouldn’t be caught dead here. She walked up to the stage, acknowledged the audience with a nod, and then calmly turned her gaze to Alma.
Alma was visibly peeved. This woman actually had the guts to get on stage!
She thought to herself, “Perfect, Tonight, I’m going to make a complete mockery out of Maja. I’ll have everyone laughing at her. She’ll be the butt of all jokes in the social circle!”
“Maja, I’ve decided to play ‘Kiss The Rain‘. You can play ‘The Trill of the Devil“,” she said, beaming as she lifted her skirt and took a seat at the piano,
The spotlight cast a flattering glow on Alma, making her look even more radiant. Meanwhile, Maja was standing in the shadows, clearly not the center of attention.
She picked up the violin next to her, asking with some uncertainty, “Ms. Alma, are you sure you want me to play this piece? It doesn’t seem to mesh well with the one you’re playing.”
Alma’s eyes were filled with scorn. This woman didn’t even know that ‘The Trill of the Devil‘ was considered the most difficult violin piece to play, with its three tricky parts known as ‘devilishly hard‘.
Alma had purposely picked this piece to trip up Maja, convinced that she was incapable of playing it.
Her plan was simple: she’d elegantly play the piano on stage while Maja made a fool of herself. It was just too perfect.
“Ms. Pennyfeather, if you can’t play the piece, you can leave the stage. But please don’t waste our time.”
Maja picked up her violin, and it seemed that she wasn’t entirely clueless.
Her eyes were slightly closed, and she looked utterly relaxed.
The spotlight was completely focused on Alma.
Alma glanced at Maja, who was already set to play, and sneered. What a show–off!
The piece Alma was playing was very soothing. It was said that the composer had been inspired to write it during a sudden rainstorm on a starry night. It had ‘a peaceful melody that was quite soothing to the ears..
However, the piece she had chosen for Maja, ‘The Trill of the Devil‘, was not only complicated, but also had several abrupt key changes.
As both of them were ready, someone in the audience couldn’t help but laugh.
“If I were Maja, I’d quit on the spot. She probably has no idea how hard this piece is.”
“This is so cringy. Maja is acting like it’s a piece of cake, but she’ll probably make a fool of herself soon.”
“Tonight, not only will she embarrass herself, but Herbert will lose face, too. The only reason the organizers even invited her was because she’s Herbert’s student.” “She should just get off the stage! The performance hasn’t even started, and I’m already embarrassed for her.”
As the murmurs spread, Alma began her performance.
The moment the piano sounded, Maja’s violin followed suit.
The first part of ‘The Trill of the Devil‘ was a slow melody that complemented Alma’s piece perfectly.
Alma had not expected Maja actually to play the piece, so she pursed her lips coldly. She intentionally sped up her playing, trying to throw Maja off.
The audience was somewhat surprised. They had expected Maja to be all over the place.
Just when everyone thought Maja’s performance was about to end, a few powerful notes suddenly appeared, drowning out Alma’s piano.
There weren’t many in the audience who could play ‘The Trill of the Devil‘ in its entirety. Everyone knew it was an incredibly challenging piece, let alone for a solo performance.
Realizing her piano was being overshadowed, Alma felt a rush of panic and tried to catch up to Maja’s rhythm.
But the notes Maja played exuded a tenacity and sharpness that completely overpowered Alma’s love–infused piano piece.
Alma’s face went pale, and she fumbled through several notes due to her nervousness.
Meanwhile, Maja had her eyes closed, lost in her music.
The sound of the violin became more and more enchanting, like a midnight intellectual carnival.
The spotlight was no longer focused on Alma but had somehow shifted to Maja.
With her eyes closed and a calm expression, Maja stood under the spotlight. The audience was completely silent, watching her intently.
The final part of the piece, with its exaggerated tremolo and bizarre melody, was filled with exceptional performance skills. It gave off a sense of tragic grandeur. Maja turned the violin piece into a desperate outcry, causing a wave of emotion to wash over the audience.
The atmosphere was solemn and grand. Maja was on fire!
The performance ended. Maja put down her violin and bowed to the audience.
Even after she left the stage, everyone was still stunned.
When the lights in the hall came on, everyone snapped out of their reverie. Some even wiped away their tears.
Meanwhile, Alma, still seated at the piano, was shaking and speechless. She didn’t dare touch the piano keys again.
