S.V. Redkin The Great Conductor

He had better find a way to do it sooner rather than later, though, because the Great Conductor had given him the second condition for their collaboration — they would have to be ready to perform at a grandiose celebration of Mstislav Rostropovich’s birthday, whom the Great Conductor had personally known. The event was being organized by the most prominent music philanthropists for a special audience. It was going to be better than any music competition — the opportunity was not to be missed. The Great Conductor had high hopes for Sebastian’s piece. With the best available talents and their beautiful instruments to match, he wanted to create a perfect performance in front of the discerning audience.

The revealing of the second condition had taken place unexpectedly a few days ago. Right after another productive rehearsal with Sebastian’s new colleague, the Great Conductor had decided to show up and share his amazing plans. It was late in the evening. The colleague, who had chosen to stay at his own place, had left. Sebastian — dressed in his worn-to-shreds crimson robe that had belonged to his father — was having a bowl of Korean spicy rice noodles with some vegetables Martha had cooked for dinner when he heard the Great Conductor’s voice behind him. At first, Sebastian had thought that his tired mind and heavy head from all the work was creating noises that sounded like someone’s voice, but then he realized that he was in the presence of the maestro.

“It’s time for you to know when we will be performing your piece,” the Great Conductor had said quietly in his beautiful, melodic voice, almost like singing.

Sebastian had turned around and seen the man himself — dressed in a black dinner jacket, a white dress shirt, and a black bow tie, as if he were on his way to a dinner party. He wore his usual surgical face mask — he’d explained to Sebastian at their first meeting that he didn’t want to catch any viruses. Post-pandemic frenzy, it had made total sense. The fact that he had appeared like that wasn’t a shock — Sebastian had offered the Great Conductor the key to the house with trepidation, allowing him to show up at his convenience, which the maestro had graciously accepted. It was a nice, unexpected surprise.

“You’ll need to make some adjustments to the concerto to make sure each instrument has its glorious moment. Be punctilious. Our musicians, along with the soloist, will need to shine and share the energy that the audience can bask in. That will be the highlight of the whole evening and a true celebration of Rostropovich’s genius. He’ll be looking down at us” — he raised both his hands, pointing to the sky, and looked up — “from heaven, smiling with pleasure and serenity.”

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