The Best Episodes of Nodame Cantabile

It is finally Stresemann, Chiaki, and the A Orchestra's turn to perform for the school's fall festival. They manage to captivate the audience with their Rachmaninoff performance. Chiaki and Stresemann go their separate ways as Stresemann returned to Europe the next day. Nodame becomes desperate to perform in an orchestra like Chiaki and is left with a message and present from Stresemann. Saiko, still thinking about Chiaki, comes by for a visit. Nodame also comes by after practicing Rachmaninoff for days without bathing and hardly any food. The piece performed in this episode is Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Director: N/A

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Auditions are held for the Marlet Orchestra, with Paul and Kuroki being among the new members. After intense rehearsal, the Orchestra has another concert, and the time comes for Chiaki to show the results of his ad his musicians' efforts so far.

Director: Youhei Suzuki

Writer: Yoji Enokido

Chiaki conducts his last piece with the Rising Star Orchestra and contemplates how he even got there in the first place. With Nodame still away in Okawa, Chiaki is urged to persuade her to return to piano by visiting her home town after the concert. Chiaki and Nodame share an intimate moment at the riverbed as her father catches sight of them from his boat. Chiaki and Nodame will be looking forward to seeing each other in Europe. The pieces performed in the episode are Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert.

Director: N/A

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

After the concert, Nodame uses hypnotism to cure Chiaki's fear of flying. The pieces performed in this episode are Symphony no.1 in c minor by Johannes Brahms, Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert, and Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Franz Liszt.

Director: Shigeru Ueda

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Nodame advances through the preliminaries of the Maradona piano competition, while the R-S Orcherstra's fame increases, drawing more and more attention. The pieces performed in this episode are Piano Sonata D845 by Schubert, Prelude and fugue no.16 (only the fugue) WTK book 2 by Bach, Etude Op. 10, No. 4 by Chopin, Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Liszt and L'Isle Joyeuse by Debussy.

Director: N/A

Writer: Michihiro Tsuchiya

Nodame makes it to the final round, but an untimely fever from practicing too much sets her back as it now becomes a race against time to finish memorizing the pieces for the final round. Just when the pressure couldn't have been any heavier, she runs into a colleague from her childhood, Segawa Yuuto, which in turn brings back her bad memories she had repressed. Chiaki, on the other hand, has his hands full with the new violinist, but attends the Maradona finals to observe Nodame and the other contestants. The pieces performed in this episode are Variations on a Theme of Paganini by Johannes Brahms, Gaspard de la nuit by Joseph-Maurice Ravel, Piano Sonata No. 23 Op. 57 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 K.310 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 2 in G minor by Robert Schumann and Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky.

Director: N/A

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

Nodame's first recital becomes a huge success, to the point of her receiving other proposals for job.

Director: N/A

Writer: Yoji Enokido

Back in Paris, Nodame spends her days quietly playing for children while her friends wonder if she will ever resume her studies or her career. Determined to put Nodame back on track, Chiaki asks her to play with him-- the same piece they played together when they first met. This episode also tells us what has happened to some of the characters they met in Paris. Piece Featured: Sonata for Two Pianos in D major by Mozart.

Director: N/A

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

Nodame finishes her last "Moja Moja" song and now must do her part in her deal with Etou sensei. Meanwhile, some members of the R-S Orchestra take a break on rehearsals to dedicate to their solo competitions. The piece performed in this episode is Symphonie Espagnole, op. 21 - 1. Allegro non troppo by Édouard Lalo.

Director: N/A

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

Finally the time comes for the R-S Orchestra's first concert.

Director: N/A

Writer: Michihiro Tsuchiya

Nodame is in deep trouble as her train of thought is robbed at an unfortunate moment. She leaves the competition hall disappointed as well as Chiaki who had hoped she would goto Europe with him. The New Year's concert is around the corner and Chiaki has yet to inform the Rising-Star Orchestra of his pending departure from Japan as well as his replacement conductor, Matsuda. Sakuma also shares his reasons as to why he had helped Chiaki throughout his past 2 years starting from his Rachmaninoff performance. The pieces performed in this episode are Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy, Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate, and Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche Op.28 by Richard Strauss.

Director: N/A

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Chiaki takes part in his first competition as a conductor. But he ends up having to face strong contestants like Jean Donnadieu, one of Sebastiano Vieira's apprentices.

Director: N/A

Writer: Yoji Enokido

Disappointed with his first performance, Chiaki starts scouting for new musicians and invites Kuroki for an audition. Meanwhile, Rui is forced by her mother, Mrs. Son, to leave Paris with her, after she heard from Madame Bellou (possibly Rui's landlady) that she's been slacking off and spending time at Chaiki's. While Nodame rehearses for the exams at the conservatoire along with Kuroki and Paul duBois.

Director: Tomoaki Ohta

Writer: Yoji Enokido

Nodame has been absent from school and Chiaki starts looking desperately for her, just to find that she was rehearsing for a concerto with Stresseman in London. Pieces featured: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 by Chopin

Director: Youhei Suzuki

Writer: N/A

Nodame's concerto with Stresseman becomes a huge success worldwide. However, she loses the will to keep playing and disappears for a while. Meanwhile, Chiaki finally comes at terms with his feelings for her.

Director: Hikaru Sato

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

Stresseman sends Chiaki, Nodame, Mine, and Masumi to a musical festival where each takes lessons from famous musicians in order to better their playing. An unprepared Mine is quickly overwhelmed by the many talented musicians there. Meanwhile, Chiaki is ordered to look out for Stresemann and thanks to Stresemann's hangover, is also made to conduct an orchestra (the piece performed is the Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76, B. 54, by Antonín Dvořák). Nodame is yelled at by the festival director, Nina Lutz, for not having motivation. At the end, however, after much practice, Nodame plays Bartok's Allegro Barbaro magnificently, but disappears from the practice room just as Lutz comes to see who was just playing.

Director: N/A

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

The school festival is here and the S Orchestra is to perform without the aid of Chiaki, who is busy practicing with the A Orchestra with their performance. Chiaki discovers what was missing from his playing courtesy of the S Orchestra, but Stresemann tells him to disregard it for their upcoming performance after insisting on it throughout all his practices. The pieces performed in this episode are Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (brief) and Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (pianica version).

Director: N/A

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

The R-S Orchestra starts rehearsing for their first concert, while Nodame and her new teacher finally come to an agreement. The piece played is Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major K 314.

Director: Shigeru Ueda

Writer: Masahiro Yokotani

Thanks to Chiaki's encouragement, Rui decides to keep playing and a special concert featuring both is arranged. Stresseman is seriously depressed over the death of a friend of his and Chiaki, on the way to attend one of Nodame's recitals, have a surprising reunion with Sebastiano Vieira and he decides to accompany him instead. Pieces featured: Italian Concerto, BWV 971 by Bach, Op. 19 No. 1 "Sweet Remembrance" from Songs without Words by Felix Mendelssohn, Polonaise Fantasie by Frédéric Chopin, Légende No. 1: St François d'Assise by Franz Liszt

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

Shinichi Chiaki was almost giving up his dream of becoming a conductor, until he met Megumi Noda, also known as "Nodame". The pieces performed in the episode are Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns (brief), Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major "Emperor" by Ludwig van Beethoven (brief), Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13 "Adagio Cantabile" by Ludwig van Beethoven (brief) and 2-Piano Sonata in D Major, K.448/375a by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Director: N/A

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Chiaki and Nodame perform Rachmaninoff on two pianos and cause quite a stir attracting an audience including Saiko and Etou-sensei. Later Chiaki meets with the writers from Classic Life magazine and they try to investigate why Chiaki is still in Japan when he could be going abroad. Nodame goes around bringing candy to various 4th year students in the S Orchestra as they reflect on their experience playing under Chiaki and on their future as graduation looms around the corner. The piece performed in the episode is Piano Concerto No. 2 (for 2 pianos 4 hands) by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Director: Shigeru Ueda

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Under rather bizarre circumstances, Nodame makes a visit to the home in which Chiaki grew up, meets his family, and even makes dinner for them (onigiri and nabe). Since the passing of Chiaki's grandfather, tensions seem to have risen within the family, nearly to a breaking point. The pair end up staying over night, and when a nightmare wakes Chiaki, he retreats to his grandfather's audio room. Upon waking to the sound of the opera, Nodame finds Chiaki in the study, listening to records. Eager to play, she convinces him to accompany her on the violin while she plays the piano. There are no pieces performed in this episode; however, Chiaki listens to Matthäuspassion by Johann Sebastian Bach in his Grandfather's audio room.

Director: N/A

Writer: Michihiro Tsuchiya

Chiaki's relatives are awaken by Chiaki and Nodame's playing. Both uncle and cousin agree that Chiaki should continue his music studies. Just before leaving Chiaki and his relatives all agree that Nodame should become a concert pianist and not a kindergarten teacher (seeing as she will be bullied). Nodame is perturbed and decides to go home by herself (as opposed to riding a taxi with Chiaki). Later, back in school, Chiaki meets up with Kiyora (violin), Kuroki (oboe), and Kikuchi (cello) to discuss the new orchestra they were about to "build". Meanwhile, Nodame has been officially transferred to Etou-sensei (famous for his white fan for hitting people with). Later that night, Chiaki goes to a drinking party of the new orchestra deciding the piece of their first performance. Mine's father called and said that Nodame dropped by to look for Chiaki but did not eat anything. The piece performed in this episode is Violin Sonata (Sonata for Violin and Piano) op.82 by Edward Elgar.

Director: N/A

Writer: Tomoko Konparu

Nodame and Chiaki meet Stresseman in Paris. Chiaki starts to travel the world attending concerts with Stresseman after being forced to sign a contract with his manager, while Nodame has her first class with an acquaintance of hers at the conservatoire.

Director: Tomoaki Ohta

Writer: Yoji Enokido

Chiaki rehearses for his debut concert in Paris, and finds that Nodame is troubled as she is not doing fine at the conservatoire. While he tries to cheer her up, their relationship ends up moving a little forward.

Director: Nanako Shimazaki

Writer: Yoji Enokido