What's this bird's problem?
Fine, I get it! I'm going already.
You don't have to rush me like that.
I was about to go to the hall anyway.
The first player, Daniel Hunt, is playing in the same unique style he brought in the first stage.
That said, he's exciting the audience with an intensity far beyond that of the first stage.
The second player, Chang Soo An,
plays entirely differently from his twin,
but he still manages to stir his audience.
It's finally time for Poland's new star, Lech Szymanowski.
Lech is Dymitr Szymanowski's grandson, isn't he?
Indeed.
Dymitr was a truly great pianist.
He had a son, did he not?
Yes, but apparently he did not inherit his father's talent,
so he works as a piano teacher.
Oh?
He's a stubborn man who doesn't work well with others,
and I hear he teaches his son Lech with unorthodox methods.
You're on momentarily, so please be ready.
Lech!
Didn't you hear?
So Dymitr's talent skipped a generation, then?
What? But didn't Dymitr have a granddaughter as well?
You know, the one he was so proud of.
Oh.
Emilia Szymanowska!
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine today.
When I set off this morning, Emilia told me everything was sure to go well today.
I'm telling the truth.
Do you think I'm lying?
Dad goes silent whenever I bring up Emilia.
So I use her to protect myself from Dad,
just like Emilia told me to.
I believe you.
If that's what Emilia said, I'm sure you'll play well today.
Right.
Emilia Szymanowska?
Yes, his sister one year his senior.
A lovely girl who dominated competitions since childhood.
Really? Never heard of her.
I think it was about five years ago that she was in a tragic accident.
What? Did she die?
That's the question.
Her father is very guarded about any news regarding his daughter.
The third participant is Mr. Lech Szymanowski, from Poland, number 54.
He will be playing on the Steinway, performing the following program:
Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53;
Mazurkas, Op. 56, No. 1 in B major; No. 2 in C major; and No. 3 in C minor...
Emilia...
Emilia won't talk to anyone other than me anymore...
Lech, don't worry.
You've won prizes at plenty of competitions without me before, right?
If you win here, you'll get to bask in the limelight.
Would that make you happy?
Yes, very.
Emilia...
You should have been the one to stand on this stage.
These cheers belong to you.
Emilia,
I'll play for the both of us.
Otherwise...
You will have taken my place in vain.
I will have survived in vain.
This is the true sound of the authentic, Polish Chopin...
So noble...
Such beautiful playing!
This is...
...without a doubt...
...the Chopin we desired!
Wow, this guy is good.
A true paragon of Chopin.
No, it's even better.
This performance is so pleasant to listen to.
This is even better than he was in the first stage.
This mazurka lets you hear Polish farmers both happily dancing
and lamenting their poverty and pain.
Masterful!
This is Poland's Chopin!
Honey...
Lech is playing so brilliantly.
Emilia!
When I finish playing this, will I be free?
Will...
Will my sins be forgiven?
I forgive you, Lech.
So for now, just concentrate.
Given the freedom,
I could do anything!
By now, much of the audience, as well as many experts such as myself,
must be convinced that Lech Szymanowski will win this competition.
That was fantastic.
It seems Poland has finally managed to uphold its reputation.
I couldn't even begin to complain after something like that.
Now the audience will have a hard time dragging up Adamski's failure again.
Brilliant!
I'll happily surrender to this.
Is that right?
Without a doubt.
Hats off to this performance.
There's simply no beating that performance.
Never mind Shuhuei; even Wei Pang has met his match.
Yoichiro.
Yoichiro!
Come now, pay attention.
We're at a 30-minute intermission.
Let's go get some coffee.
Right.
Oh!
Dr. Nakao! I was worried you wouldn't show up!
Sorry about that.
The medical examination took longer than I expected.
The competition is at intermission.
You're just in time.
That's good.
But I have to say, I'm amazed you managed to get tickets.
Nashimoto, who do you take me for?
Huh?
Here are your two tickets.
I once treated the hand of the Chopin Philharmonic's conductor.
I guess you're not known as the world-famous Musician Hand Doctor Nakao for nothing!
Szymanowski did it.
If he continues like that, he'll win for sure.
Yes. I mustn't admit this openly,
but before him, I nearly regretted failing Adamski.
Agreed.
I'm quite relieved.
Next is your favorite Japanese contestant.
Ooh, you're right! I can't wait.
It doesn't matter who plays next.
As far as this competition is concerned,
nobody will be able to best Poland's Chopin.
Dr. Nakao, it's finally time!
Indeed.
Kai...
I'm going now.
Kai, believe in yourself.
Yup!
Ichinose...
Szymanowski's playing still resonates in this hall.
The atmosphere is thick with presumption for who will win.
How will you face that?
Kai Ichinose, from Japan.
Here he is!
What is this commotion?
I'm impressed by how popular he is.
This certainly shows how highly they thought of his first performance.
The level of applause reflects the audience's expectations.
As such, if he doesn't play well enough to rival Szymanowski,
the audience won't be satisfied.
Even for Ichinose, this is a high bar to clear.
Yo!
We meet again, Chopin!
Kai...
I have no regrets.
So give us your all, too!
My, what an energetic start!
This is it.
This is the sound.
Ichinose's playing is able to color the whole hall
with just its introduction!
That's the way.
This is how a mazurka should be.
Ajino's gallant mazurka...
I see Ichinose has inherited it, too.
It feels like all the children who have been cooped up for the winter...
...are bursting out onto the fields of Poland to welcome spring.
It's teeming with such joy.
Listening to this instills quite the pleasant feeling.
But this piece should be uninteresting and plain.
Is this some sort of magic trick?
What makes Ichinose's music sound so natural?
It feels so warm... so nostalgic.
Oh, I can see Poland's plains.
A rapeseed field?
The flowers that all bloom together when spring arrives...
Dyeing the whole field yellow...
Is this our rapeseed?
How beautiful!
So kind.
Amazing...
When I close my eyes and just listen, it's as if a Polish person is playing this mazurka!
Actually...
This depiction is even more vivid!
How can Ichinose, who never even studied here, play a mazurka this way?
Damn...
Everyone's being taken in by this.
This is the mazurka my late mother loved –
the one she played for me instead of a lullaby.
I refuse to give away points that easily...!
Damn it, damn it...
I can't be brought to tears by someone from Japan!
Ever since Kai was a child,
he has excelled at playing and conveying pieces born from nature.
Having grown up with the forest piano,
he connects to the heart of the mazurka in ways even I couldn't see.
I was naïve.
It doesn't matter to Ichinose how others play.
No matter who he follows, he simply plays his own way.
This deep sorrow and love...
My god, what was that performance?
Dr. Nakao, that was incredible, wasn't it?!
Shh!
Would you be quiet?
He's immersing himself.
I concede that his mazurka was excellent.
But once you've captured the audience members' hearts like this,
you won't be forgiven if the upcoming polonaise is even slightly subpar.
Here it comes.
That fierce introduction.
Here we go.
He started off reserved.
A determined introduction.
Now I'm excited to see his hidden passion come to light.
Fascinating!
He's playing the theme delicately first,
then boldly in forte the second time around?
S-Stunning!
Now let's go to the forest.
To the forest!
Kai...!
The theme that appears twice in the middle section of the piece, reminiscent of the march of the Polish knights,
he plays in an orthodox manner the first time, going from piano to forte.
But the second time around,
he avoids going back to piano, instead continuing from forte into...
fortississimo!
Are you serious?
So vigorous!
H-He's the real deal!
Our Poland!
What?! He's only partway through his program!
Our Poland!