List of Nodame Cantabile Episodes - Season One

Season One

# Title Original airdate English Airdate
01 "Lesson 1" January 11, 2007 July 7, 2010

Popular piano student Shinichi Chiaki has almost given up his dream of becoming a conductor because his international career prospects are crippled by his fear of flying. His despair affects his playing, and he is transferred to a different teacher, Hajime Tanioka, who specializes in failing students. Tanioka introduces him to eccentric fellow student, Megumi "Nodame" Noda, and assigns them a Mozart sonata for two pianos. Chiaki quickly learns that while Nodame is capable of playing in a beautiful cantabile style, she can be sloppy and is a poor sight reader, preferring to learn by listening. After the two discover they are neighbors, Chiaki learns she is also very messy, and to his irritation finds himself cleaning her apartment and cooking her dinner. As they practice, he realizes she performs better when allowed to interpret loosely, and her joy in music when they perform for Tanioka inspires him to resume pursuing becoming a conductor. To his dismay, however, Nodame has fallen in love with him.

Pieces featured: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso by Saint-Saëns, "Allegro con brio" from Symphony No.7 by Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" by Beethoven, "Adagio cantabile" from Piano Sonata No. 8 by Beethoven, and Sonata for Two Pianos in D major by Mozart.
02 "Lesson 2" January 18, 2007 July 8, 2010

After Chiaki quits as violinist Ryutaro Mine's piano accompanist for his juried exam, Mine is on the verge of quitting classical music for rock music using an electric violin. When he meets Nodame by chance, he asks her to be his accompanist. While he finds their playing together exhilarating, Nodame feels something is off, and asks Chiaki's advice. He points out that Mine is a strong soloist but does not pay attention to other players. Armed with this, Nodame insists that she and Mine practice more rigorously. Meanwhile, Nodame takes Mine's advice and tries to attract Chiaki's attention by dressing sexily. However, Chiaki is horrified by her excessive makeup, and Nodame catches a cold after wearing a slinky dress in winter. Chiaki substitutes as Mine's accompanist, and plays to match Mine's style. Mine passes his exam and quits his rock band, having decided to commit to classical music.

Pieces featured: Violin Sonata No. 5 "Spring" by Beethoven, Introduction and Rondo capriccioso by Saint-Saëns.
03 "Lesson 3: Queen of Percussion"
"Lesson3: Dagakki no Joō" (Lesson3: 打楽器の女王)
January 25, 2007 July 9, 2010

Timpanist Masumi Okuyama, an admirer of Chiaki, is jealous of Nodame's relationship with him and begins tormenting her with pranks. Mine suggests a contest: who can get a date with Chiaki on Christmas Eve. Masumi attempts to impress Chiaki during orchestra practice but is thrown out for showing off. Nodame asks Chiaki out while he is distracted composing music, and he later denies saying yes. Nodame suggests in consolation that she, Masumi, and Mine play together. Meanwhile, Chiaki finally remembers having said yes to Nodame. Feeling honor-bound to at least give her a proper refusal, he finds her, Masumi, and Mine practicing a jazz arrangement of his music, based on Nodame's hearing it once. He joins their ensemble, and forces them to rehearse late on Christmas Eve.

Piece featured: an original work by Suguru Matsutani, which in the series is composed by Chiaki and arranged by Nodame, Mine, and Masumi.
04 "Lesson 4: Master Milch's Appearance"
"Lesson4: Kyoshō Miruhi Tōjō" (Lesson4: 巨匠ミルヒ登場)
February 1, 2007 July 12, 2010

A foreigner visits Chiaki's school and becomes friends with Nodame. Chiaki refuses to let him into his house because of his perverted behavior. It turns out the foreigner is Maestro Franz von Stresemann and is attending the school as head of the conducting department. Chiaki, interested in changing his major to conducting, gets rejected by the new professor who is apparently at odds with Chiaki's former "teacher", Vieira.

Piece featured: Fantaisie-Impromptu by Chopin, and Mahler's Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand.
05 "Lesson 5: Many Years of S Orchestra's Direction"
"Lesson5: Chiaki S Oke Shiki" (Lesson5: Chiaki the S Orchestra's Conductor)
February 8, 2007 July 13, 2010

With Stresemann knocked out cold, Nodame "convinces" Chiaki to be substitute conductor for the special orchestra. Chiaki agrees and finds out that the group he's conducting is out of synch. As the rehearsal falls apart, Stresemann takes over and demonstrates everything that Chiaki failed to do. Stresemann finally accepts Chiaki as his student but tells him to remain a piano major.

Piece featured: Symphony No. 7 by Beethoven.
06 "Lesson 6: Withdrawal"
"Lesson6: Dattai" (Lesson6: 脱退)
February 15, 2007 July 14, 2010

The S orchestra is to perform before the A orchestra at the upcoming concert. However, Stresemann takes "business" leave and Chiaki is forced to take his place conducting the S orchestra. In a twist of events, Stresemann quits the S orchestra and in revenge against Chiaki, plans to lead the A orchestra in humiliating the S orchestra at the concert. With the concert just a week away, Chiaki becomes the S orchestra's new conductor.

Piece featured: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" by Beethoven.
07 "Lesson 7: Chiaki and Kazuo"
"Lesson7: Kazuo na Chiaki" (Lesson7: カズオな千秋)
February 22, 2007 July 15, 2010

Chiaki is still having trouble getting the orchestra into shape, and everyone's confidence shatters under his harsh criticisms. With help from Nodame, Chiaki finally realizes Stresemann's reasoning behind the S Orchestra just in time for the concert subscription series, and the S Orchestra manages to impress their audience with an unorthodox display.

Piece featured: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" by Beethoven.
08 "Lesson 8: Milch's Repatriation"
"Lesson8: Miruhī Sōkan" (Lession8: ミルヒー送還)
March 1, 2007 July 15, 2010

Chiaki is asked to leave the S orchestra to play the piano solo of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff as requested by Stresseman for the A orchestra. It is revealed that Stresseman was asked by his ex-admired, a member of the academy's board of directors to instruct Chiaki in conducting.

Pieces featured: Étude Op. 10, No. 4, an excerpt from Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1, both by Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Symphony No.1 in C Minor by Johannes Brahms.
09 "OVA" February 16, 2008 July 26, 2010
A 15-minute special that takes place before the main events of episode 9. Even though it's their summer vacation, Stresemann decides to send Chiaki, Nodame, Mine, and Masumi to a music festival. The OVA details a detour to the beach before arriving at the festival.
10 "Lesson 9: Music Festival"
"Lesson9: Ongakusai" (Lesson9: 音楽祭)
March 8, 2007 July 16, 2010

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 and Nodame is yelled at by the festival director, Nina Lutz, for not having motivation.

Pieces featured: Symphony No. 5 by Dvořák, Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" by Beethoven and Allegro barbaro by Bartók.
11 "Lesson 10: The Fact Charm"
"Lesson10: Miseru to Iu Koto" (Lesson10: 魅せるという事)
March 15, 2007 July 19, 2010

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.

Pieces featured: Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff and Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin (melodica version).
12 "Lesson 11: Piano"
"Lesson11: Piano" (Lesson11: ピアノ)
March 22, 2007 July 20, 2010

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.

Piece featured: Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff.
13 "Lesson 12: Course"
"Lesson12: Shinro" (Lession12: 進路)
April 12, 2007 July 21, 2010

Chiaki and Nodame perform Rachmaninoff on two pianos and cause quite a stir attracting an audience including Saiko and Etoh-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.

Piece featured: Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff (arranged for 2 pianos 4 hands).
14 "Lesson 13: Graduation"
"Lesson13: Sotsugyō" (Lesson13: 卒業)
April 19, 2007 July 22, 2010

It's graduation time at the Momogaoka College of Music and its graduating students (including Chiaki and Masumi) put on a performance of various classical pieces for their graduation recital. Kiyora Miki, the former concert mistress of the Nina Lutz Seminar Youth Orchestra, proposes to Chiaki her idea of assembling an orchestra. She invites Chiaki in as their conductor. Needless to say, she also requests that Chiaki and his "superstar" status to invite some of the elite musicians (cellist, violinist, and oboist) into the orchestra. The S Orchestra has their final get together as they disband and move on.

Piece featured: Syrinx by Claude Debussy, Concerto for Percussion by André Jolivet, and Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke) by Liszt.
15 "Lesson 14: Past"
"Lesson14: Kako" (Lesson14: 過去)
April 26, 2007 July 23, 2010

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 overnight, 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 (by ear).

Piece featured: St Matthew Passion by Bach.
16 "Lesson 15: Change"
"Lesson15: Henka" (Lesson15: 変化)
May 3, 2007 July 27, 2010

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 Miki (violin), Yasunori Kuroki (oboe), and Toru Kikuchi (cello) to discuss the new orchestra they were about to "build". Meanwhile, Nodame has been officially transferred to Etoh-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.

Piece featured: Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82 by Elgar.
17 "Lesson 16: Start-Up"
"Lesson16: Shidō" (Lesson16: 始動)
May 10, 2007 July 28, 2010

The Rising Star Orchestra (R☆S Orchestra) starts rehearsing for their first concert, while Nodame and Etoh-sensei finally come to an agreement after days of chasing and persuasion.

Piece featured: Oboe Concerto by Mozart.
18 "Lesson 17: Waste"
"Lesson17: Muda" (Lesson17: 無駄)
May 17, 2007 July 29, 2010

Nodame finishes her last "Moja Moja" song and now must do her part in her deal with Etoh-sensei. Meanwhile, some members of the R☆S Orchestra take a break on rehearsals to dedicate to their solo competitions, especially Kiyora, Kuroki and Kikuchi.

Piece featured: Allegro non troppo from Symphonie Espagnole by Lalo.
19 "Lesson 18: Arousal"
"Lesson18: Kakusei" (Lesson18: 覚醒)
May 24, 2007 July 30, 2010
Finally the time comes for the R☆S Orchestra's first concert.
20 "Lesson 19: Flight"
"Lesson19: Hishō" (Lesson19: 飛翔)
May 31, 2007 August 2, 2010

After the concert, Nodame uses hypnotism to cure Chiaki's fear of flying.

Pieces featured: Symphony No. 1 by Brahms, Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 845 by Schubert, and Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Liszt.
21 "Lesson 20: World"
"Lesson20: Sekai" (Lesson20: 世界)
June 7, 2007 August 3, 2010

Nodame advances through the preliminaries of the Maradona piano competition, while the R☆S Orcherstra's fame increases, drawing more and more attention.

Pieces featured: Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 845 by Schubert, Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 by Saint-Saëns,The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2, Fugue No. 16, BWV 885 by Bach, Etude Op. 10, No. 4 by Chopin, Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Liszt, and L'Isle Joyeuse by Debussy.
22 "Lesson 21: Accident"
"Lesson21: Ihen" (Lesson21: 異変)
June 14, 2007 August 4, 2010

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, Yuuto Segawa, a student at Nodame's first-attended piano class, Hanazakura, 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 episode ends with a cliffhanger, as Nodame suffers a memory slip and grinds to a halt in the middle of her final piece.

Pieces featured: 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.14 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 K.310 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Scherzo No. 4 in E major by Frederic Chopin, Sonata No. 2 in G minor by Robert Schumann and Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky.
23 "Lesson 22: Last"
"Lesson22: Saigo" (Lesson22: 最後)
June 21, 2007 August 5, 2010

Nodame half-improvises her way through the rest of the piece. She gets generous applause, but everybody knows that she has no chance of getting any prize. Chiaki tries to cheer her up by asking her to come to Europe with him. Nodame, still depressed by her performance, shows no interest. 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.

Pieces featured: 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.
24 "Lesson 23: Future"
"Lesson23: Mirai" (Lesson23: 未来)
June 28, 2007 August 6, 2010

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.

Pieces featured: Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Nodame Cantabile Episodes

Famous quotes containing the word season:

    Only he who has had the good fortune to read them in the nick of time, in the most perceptive and recipient season of life, can give any adequate account of them.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    When I read a story, I relive the moment from which it sprang. A scene burned itself into me, a building magnetized me, a mood or season of Nature’s penetrated me, history suddenly appeared to me in some tiny act, or a face had begun to haunt me before I glanced at it.
    Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)