Moé Moé Rabu

Whilst trying to feed her, Nodame refuses to eat until she plays the concerto. So Chiaki reluctantly takes her to the school as it is easier with two pianos. He instructs Nodame to play the piano part whilst he plays the orchestra, but he is shocked to hear her playing as she is playing too fast. Instead of stopping, he continues on but makes Nodame listen to his playing. Outside a group of students have gathered by the door and Saiko is there as well. Even Chiaki’s ex-teacher Etou Kouzo passes by and is surprised to see them playing. Overhearing the others commenting how Nodame could be Chiaki’s girlfriend, she has heard enough and turns to leave.

The next day, Saiko overhears Suganuma talking about how she is chasing Chiaki. She feels that Saiko is similar to Dorabella and used her as a role model. During practice, Saiko recalls the story Cosi fan tutte and how she really is similar to Dorabella in which even after dating Chiaki, she still returns to him, and she ends up giving an emotional performance to her teacher. Meanwhile Chiaki wants Nodame to practice the Rachmaninoff piece, but Nodame says that she is satisfied with her playing with Chiaki.

The new year has passed and it is exam period. Mine discover from others that Stresemann and Chiaki are featured in the Classic Life magazine, and as they are reading it, Sakuma and Kawano are on the campus looking for Chiaki. Meanwhile Nodame is with Chiaki showing him the Puri Gorota chocolates that she won. She notices that he is practicing Liszt’s First Mephisto Waltz and Nodame laughs as she finds it suits him. Chiaki then asks what Nodame is playing and she says Mozart but looks away. But beforing being asked to play, she runs away and goes off to see everyone. As Chiaki walks off the campus, Sakuma and Kawano catch him and want to talk with him.

Sitting in Uraken, they show Chiaki the article in Classic Life magazine and Chiaki also finds the article a little embarrassing. The topic changes to what he is doing after graduation, but he tells them he has no plans to go overseas or enter any contests. Sakuma begins talking the same way he wrote the article and the two want to know why he won’t go overseas. Not knowing that he is scared of planes and boats, Chiaki leaves in anger saying that what he does is none of their business. That night Nodame tells Chiaki about the members of S-Oke and how they are getting jobs, one which is even getting married. Though Chiaki wants her to leave because he wants to practice. The topic eventually changes to what Nodame wants to do after her graduation and she tells him that she’ll become a kindergarten teacher. Chiaki is surprised to hear this as well as that she finds it laughable that she won’t enter any contests. He then begins to lecture her about not aiming higher with her talents but then realises he is doing the same thing that Kawano and Sakuma were. He sees the problem for him now is not being able to go overseas, but what he wants to do in Japan.

Preview:

Impressions

Ok I wrote up a proper summary by accident mainly from all the Spring season first episodes I have been doing. Anyway I’m finally glad Nodame Cantabile is back after a two week break and this episode the move towards the new arc in the story line. With their exams coming up, everyone is thinking of their future but more importantly is how Chiaki hasn’t given his future much of a thought. The whole Stresemann visit would probably have strayed his thoughts away from this and he has only come to realise this after meeting with Sakuma and Kawano. With his fear of planes and boats, his options are limited and it feels as if he is back where he started from episode 1. Though now with his fame as a pianist and as Stresemann’s pupil, we’ll see changes very soon.

Saiko’s part didn’t feel as important as I thought it would be but it is nice to see her get some screen time and we get to know her character a bit more. Relating her to Cosi fan tutte was a really nice comparison as it brings out Saiko’s character brilliantly, though even with this, I still don’t think it’s the end of her part. Perhaps we’ll see her try to get back together with Chiaki? Well in the live drama, there wasn’t any indication of that, but I think this would be a stepping stone for Saiko to step forward.

Nodame version of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Conerto No.2 was rather unique and that’s what Nodame is. However I do agree with Chiaki when he realises that she isn’t playing it right and how she was playing it too fast. During the two week break from Nodame Cantabile, I managed to listen to the full 20 minute version of this as well as a little reading. Rachmainoff wrote this concerto after getting out of a great depression and the first 8 bar chords where meant to represent the slow ringing of Russian bells, and from there on we get the sense of Rachmaninoff’s depression. Hearing Nodame play the piece faster than what it supposed to be loses that feeling of depression and that is the essence of this piece before gradually changing tone to show that Rachmaninoff has recovered. I found it really awesome how Chiaki was able to conduct the music via his piano playing and getting Nodame to listen to his music, or conducting should I say, and play how it should be. I must say, Chiaki really is a genius in being able to get others to hear his music and get them to follow.

Looking from the preview, it appears to Chiaki meets with Kiyora and will soon form his own orchestra and hopefully from this we’ll see more of Nodame and how she will change from what she is now.