The BEST episodes of Nodame Cantabile (2007)
Every episode of Nodame Cantabile (2007) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Nodame Cantabile (2007)!
At a top music academy in Japan, Shinichi Chiaki's arrogance is matched only by his top-notch piano playing. But when Chiaki and the teacher get into a fight, he's demoted to the reject class. Chiaki is left to pursue his dream of being a conductor while surrounded by a bunch of loser musicians and one annoying girl, Noda, who has proclaimed herself Chiaki's girlfriend. It doesn't help that Noda, who insists on being called Nodame, lives right next door to him.
#1 - Lesson 9
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/2008
Nodame travels to Saint-Malo with Chiaki, Tanya and Kuroki for her very first recital. However, her companions are worried about her insecurity, as she usually has trouble in playing pieces by Mozart.
#2 - Lesson 23: Future
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 6/29/2007
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.
#3 - Lesson 5
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/2008
Kuroki was having trouble to adapt himself to life at Paris until he meets Nodame at the conservatoire. Meanwhile, Chiaki is feeling insecure as Nodame does not answer his phone calls and wonders if both will really be able to spend Christmas together.
#4 - Lesson 8
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/28/2008
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.
#5 - Lesson 7: Kazuo's Many Years
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/23/2007
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. The piece performed in the episode is Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 "Eroica" by Ludwig van Beethoven.
#6 - Lesson 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/10/2008
Chiaki and Nodame arrive at Paris to hone their musical skills. While he who had lived in France before easily adapts himself to their new environment, she must face some difficulties herself, including having to learn the country's language.
#7 - Lesson 11
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/19/2008
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.
#8 - Lesson 21: Accident
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 6/15/2007
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.
#9 - Lesson 9: Music Festival
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/9/2007
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.
#10 - Lesson 18: Awakening
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/25/2007
Finally the time comes for the R-S Orchestra's first concert.
#11 - Lesson 6: Secession
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/16/2007
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. The piece performed in the episode is Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 "Eroica" by Ludwig van Beethoven.
#12 - Lesson 6
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/2008
Chiaki is appointed as the official conductor of a famous orchestra which is facing serious dificulties, and Son Rui, a famous pianist who is an old friend of his, gives a break on her performances to study at the conservatoire. However, Rui's closeness to Chiaki is more than enough to ignite Nodame's jealousy.
#13 - Lesson 2
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/2008
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.
#14 - Lesson 19: Flight
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 6/1/2007
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.
#15 - Lesson 13: Graduation
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/20/2007
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, 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. The pieces performed in the episode are Concerto for Flute and Percussion by André Jolivet and Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke) by Franz Liszt.
#16 - Lesson 22: End
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/22/2007
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.
#17 - Lesson 15: Change
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/4/2007
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.
#18 - Lesson 8: Milch's Repatriation
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/2/2007
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-lover, a member of the academy's board of directors to instruct Chiaki in conducting. The piece performed by Nodame towards the end of the episode is Etude N° 4 in C Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin. The short piece that was played by Stresseman's ex is an excerpt from Nocturne Op 55 No. 1 in F minor, also by Frédéric Chopin.
#19 - Lesson 17: Wastefulness
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/18/2007
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.
#20 - Lesson 16: Starting
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/11/2007
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.
#21 - Lesson 12: Course
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/13/2007
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.
#24 - Lesson 7
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2008
The Marlet Orchestra is short on staff, and Chiaki asks Nodame to take a part on it. However, Nodame's dreams of having her first performance along Chiaki are crushed when Rui is forced to assume her place due to a misunderstanding.
#25 - Lesson 20: World
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 6/8/2007
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.