I reach out my hands and gathered up...
the scattered music notes in the 88th scene.
I don't know how to put my feelings in words.
I put them in the music score as the days passed by.
When we come across...
at the third time, the feelings will ring out here.
Let me put it straight forwardly like a song.
I write all of them in a song.
This endless crescendo is so strong...
and reaching out to someone.
The melody is heading to the pianist on the stage.
It's the melody of everything about life.
It's the real face.
A whole new world...
has opened up before my eyes.
A new prelude repeats.
Don't make it up as you go!
Listen to me.
You must NOT add notes or change the piece in any way.
That signifies that you don't properly understand the piece nor the composer.
And in the 1st round, they look only at fundamentals and technique.
Don't get fancy. We don't have time for that.
Um... Is it true there's a secret way to win the competition?
Huh?
Like being a student of one of the judges or something.
Or sending gifts to judges,
with cash hidden in the bottom of the box.
Is it true?
Do you have any connections, Mr. Etoh?
Should I start sending out summer gifts now?
Now see here...
At the Maradona Piano Competition,
contestants are only given numbers,
schools and names are not divulged.
And the judges are mostly foreigners!
No one thinks of sending gifts!
Then, back door tricks are out of the question?
Your heart is black as the Ace of Spades.
If nobody can cheat, then that's fine.
I feel relieved. Okay, let's continue practicing.
She's relieved?
If no one else can cheat, then it's okay?
What's she mean by that?
Where does she get that confidence?
For God's sake... You can't play Schubert worth beans?
Eeek!
Help me with Schubert...
He seems like a difficult person to get to know.
I tried talking to him but we're just not getting along.
We had crab soup for lunch today.
Nodame, you got your cell phone service back, I see.
Chiaki? We're supposed to start rehearsal right away.
What?
Today's concertmaster I'm sorry
but my mentor insisted on taking part in our rehearsal.
This man was the Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster.
Kai Dune. Pleased to meet you.
"Note: he pronounced it wrongly"
Guten Tag (hello), Professor Dune.
Ich heisse Shinichi Chiaki. (I am Shinichi Chiaki.)
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? (You can speak German?)
Then let's speak German during the rehearsal.
Professor!
- Wow! - No way!
We're rehearsing in German?
"The following rehearsal scene is in German."
"But please enjoy this translated version."
It's been a while since I've done Brahms.
Although we played him to death in the Berlin Phil.
Do you plan to do the next performance in the same way?
Uh... no. We plan to make a few changes.
Is that so? I look forward to it.
Well, let's begin.
Right here sits the legendary concertmaster
who led the world's leading orchestra.
I don't quite understand it but...
this is a lucky happenstance.
This sound...
It's the sound of the Berlin Phil.
Lighter on the first motif, slightly staccato!
Forte! Make that clearer.
No! No, that's not it.
Use the base of the bow for this type of expression.
That produces a clearer tone, right?
So your bowing right here, you should change to a slur.
- Translate, Kiyora. - Yes, Professor.
"For this type of expression"?
He knows right away what I'm aiming for?
And Chiaki... Why are you transitioning with a slur?
To emphasize the phrase connections.
I see. Yes, that's very important.
But we also need more volume here.
Of course we need to express this phrasing without breaks.
So what if we were to bring our bows back on it.
Uh yes. That's right. If that can be done, yes.
You guys can do that, can't you?
Wow... He's treating even Chiaki and Kiyora like children.
Is it true you've learned conducting to this point
almost completely on your own?
Yes. But last year,
I received instruction from Maestro Stresemann.
Stresemann! How's that?
He spent a year at our music school last year.
That Meena... she kept it from me.
Why him of all people?
I'm sure he only served to teach you a lot of lousy things.
In terms of his music, he commands my respect.
So do you plan to follow him to Europe?
Well, I wouldn't say I'm "following him",
but I plan on going, yes. Next year.
I see. In that case, good.
That coot, Franz.
Here I thought he was a lazy bum who wouldn't take on a protege.
He's really a sly old fox.
Nodame?
Make sure you take a bath before going to bed, okay?
Okay...
Is Schubert really that difficult a person?
You've got to stop listening to just yourself.
And listen to your partner.
Just confront the music head on.
Nodame?
If you don't approach music head on,
you'll never learn to enjoy it.
As things are now,
you won't be able to stay with Chiaki, will you?
"...won't be able to stay with Chiaki..."
Mezzopiano...
tempo...
Forte...
oh, I see. I added a note there.
Here's a rest. What's this?
Wrong fingering!
- Don't forget the modulation. - Gotcha.
There isn't a single superfluous note here.
See? It connects, then flows. Can you see it?
The visual landscape for this piece...
"Maradona Piano Competition, 1st Preliminary Round"
"Contestant No.18"
"Schubert piano sonata No.16 in A minor, D845"
Is she playing the same piano as the last person?
Yeah, but the sound is completely different.
Beautiful...
Colorful and diverse sound...
and a richly expressive fortissimo.
Professor, wake up. We've finally got a superb performer.
I got through the 1st round. Good luck to you, too. Love.
- Chiaki, it's time. - Okay.
I've got to give it my all.
For there's still something I need to do in Japan.
Rising Star Orchestra.
Now that's a silly name.
Friends who saw their debut concert kept telling me how great they were.
So here I am, but give me a break.
Look at that concert mistress.
Miki, huh? Isn't she the girl
who lost to Geion University's Fujii in the Oshi Comp?
Ah, the man rumored to have stolen college mate,
Shimabukuro's, girlfriend... Tooru Kikuchi.
Now I can see why Shimabukuro's girl went to him.
I don't believe this orchestra.
They're incredible.
Please let us join your orchestra!
What?
We graduated from the Morimitsu School of Music just last year.
We play the cello and horn. We were both first chair.
We'd be happy to be auditioned.
You could call on us when you need a large piece orchestra.
Hold on, slow down.
Excuse me, but do you hold auditions for your orchestra?
- Well... um... - Yes! I'll go call Chiaki.
Wait! I'm coming, too!
- Let me in this orchestra. - What?
I'm Noriyuki Takahashi, violinist.
I placed 3rd last year in the Buffon International Violin Competition.
I've been studying in Paris, but I returned to Japan this year.
I played a little in an orchestra overseas.
Is that enough?
I think I can more than hold my own
over this orchestra's concert mistress.
- What did you say!? - Easy, easy!
I see. 3rd at the Buffon International, huh? Impressive.
Oh... What did you say your name was?
Oh... Would you hurry and take that off?
- I can't stand it! - What?
Masumi! Someone get Masumi over here!
Chiaki's in danger!
Hey! Now it's a fugue I've never heard before.
Aaargh...
Stop composing! It's sacrilegious!
Bach's turning in his grave. Just memorize the notes.
In the second round, it's 3 pieces.
The real battle begins here.
There's not enough time to perfect these songs.
That's why I chose songs where she can exhibit her strong technique
even if the piece has a high degree of difficulty.
Oh, Chopin's Etudes... I've played these before.
I think I still remember them.
- No kidding!? - Here goes.
An etude burning at an unconscionable pace.
She's not just good...
she's got something that can move people.
An ability that would induce Chiaki to ply her with crab.
Play the way I tell you to play!
If you won't listen then I'll...
"Maradona Piano Competition, 2nd Preliminary Round"
"Chopin, Etude No.4, C sharp minor, Op.10_4"
What's gotten into her?
She's going to burn herself out!
That's the girl who played that beautiful Schubert.
What lackluster Chopin, though.
But can you play a lackluster 10_4?
"Franz Liszt, Etudes d'Execution Transcendante,"
"No.5 in B flat, 'Feux Follets'"
She looks in pain...
- It's all over. - Oh my!
She's an enigmatic girl.
It's like she herself is the "devil's fire"
that misleads travelers.
Oh God, I need to know more about this girl!
I want to hear more!
What was with that attitude!
A bad memory came back to me.
Well, don't remember stuff like that!
It's blasphemy!
Please, take it easy, Mr. Etoh.
Both of us made it through.
Tsuboi? You really did me proud...
with your very soulful and "normal human being" type of play.
Uh... thanks.
But Mr. Etoh, it was amazing seeing the huge reaction Ms. Noda got.
It's like she already has a following.
She brought a smile again to my face.
I mean, I was thrilled by her.
Knock it off. Don't flatter her too much.
But her technique is incredible.
It'll be an interesting match between her
and that contestant no.21, Yuuto Segawa.
Ah, yeah... Segawa.
I hear he won the Oshi Comp as a high school sophomore,
and then went to study overseas.
I bet everyone expects him to be the odds on favorite.
He should enter a bigger international competition, then.
Not this one. Probably using this competition for practice.
No.21... Segawa.
"Next day"
That was a strong Mendelssohn.
The Faure was weak, though.
By the 3rd round, it's all about expression.
I wonder how that girl will be?
Yeah. I know which one you mean.
Yeah, you know the one. That girl!
With the wrinkled dress!
Come on, Nodame!
You should at least put on a little makeup!
To live up to the dress you're wearing.
Gurah...
You've been wearing that expression since yesterday!
Today, you need to play looking lovely and cheerful
for Debussy's L'isle Joyeuse.
After all, it's a song he wrote when in love.
What? Is that true?
I thought he wrote it when he was old, at a villa he bought
with money he received from a wealthy widow patron, Nadezhda.
I think that's a different composer.
Debussy wrote this song on an island
he visited with his new girlfriend after having left his wife.
He wrote it full of happiness. Pretty silly story, huh?
Love can be scary in that way.
I still sometimes look at Kouzo and he appears garnished in flowers.
That is scary.
Oh... mail.
Oh! From Chiaki!
Good luck! I can come see you in the finals.
"Contestant No.18 Claude Debussy, L'isle Joyeuse"
Lovely...
The note sparkle!
What colorfully played Debussy.
It's good to see her expressiveness return.
Yeah, what was the matter in that 2nd round.
Debussy having lost himself in love?
Yes. But I don't think she was expressing that.
After all, she's still just a baby.
This dazzling voice...
will last forever.
The mark of summer...
carved on my shaking heart...
will last forever.
When our paths overlap,
I will close my eyes and feel you.
I will never forget you...
All the blue tears and stars...
in the sky.
Nowhere...
can they be disappeared.
A light shines suddenly.
This very light...
shines on my dream...
Somewhere...
I will never forget.