Finale Plot
Shinichi Chiaki is quickly making a name for himself as the principal conductor of the revitalized Roux-Marlet Orchestra, and Megumi "Nodame" Noda has made leaps and bounds as a pianist at the Conservatoire de Paris. However, tensions mount between the two as Nodame feels left behind by Chiaki's growing success and his close friendship with legendary piano prodigy Rui Son. Disregarding her teacher Professor Charles Auclair's advice, Nodame enters another piano competition in an attempt to jumpstart her own performance career. Meanwhile, those around Chiaki and Nodame are at their own crossroads. As Chiaki, Nodame, and their friends continue on their respective journeys, they must not only strive to stay true to themselves, but also remember where it all started.
Nodame Cantabile Finale aired on January 15th, 2010.
Finale Episodes
1. Leçon 1
Chiaki's popularity ahead of the Martlet Orchestra keeps increasing while Nodame gets depressed as she feels the distance between them growing and she decides to enter in a competition by herself, even without her teacher Auclair's approval. Pieces featured: Bach's Concert No. 1 in D minor, Romeo and Juliet's Overture-Fantasy by Tchaikovsky, Études Op. 10 No. 8 and Op.10 No. 12 by Chopin
2. Leçon 2
Chiaki decides to move to another apartment much to Nodame's despair and Rui tries her best to convince Auclair to have lessons with her, but he seems to be more much more interested in teaching Nodame instead. After hearing Nodame's smooth playing, she also starts to doubt herself. Pieces featured: Sonata K157 in C Major by Scarlatti, Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 in Eb Major by Chopin
3. Leçon 3
Thanks to Chiaki's encouragement, Rui decides to keep playing and a special concert featuring both is arranged. Stresseman is seriously depressed over the death of a friend of his and Chiaki, on the way to attend one of Nodame's recitals, have a surprising reunion with Sebastiano Vieira and he decides to accompany him instead. Pieces featured: Italian Concerto, BWV 971 by Bach, Op. 19 No. 1 "Sweet Remembrance" from Songs without Words by Felix Mendelssohn, Polonaise Fantasie by Frédéric Chopin, Légende No. 1: St François d'Assise by Franz Liszt
4. Leçon 4
Tanya starts to feel jealousy when Kuroki is asked to take care of a young japanese girl who is trying to enter the conservatoire. While trying to get closer to him, she starts to wonder about her own future as she is near her graduation.
5. Leçon 5
Tanya and Yu Long have poor performances at the competitions they took part, and thus they will be forced to return to their respective countries after graduation. While trying to cheer Tanya up, Kuroki ends up making a surprising proposal to her. Meanwhile, Nodame hears a piece of music that draws her attention. She hopes to play it along Chiaki someday, unaware that it's the same piece that will be featured at Chiaki and Rui's concert.
6. Leçon 6
Nodame finds that Chiaki has hidden from her the connection between the piece and his concert with Rui and she can't hide from him her dissatisfaction for not telling her sooner. After looking at how much difficult pieces Nodame is studying with her teacher, Chiaki cancels an important trip to Italy just to lend a hand to her.
7. Leçon 7
Chiaki helps Rui for their concerto. When Nodame found out, she feels betrayed, and uses that feeling to help her master a piece. Pieces featured: Paris Symphony by Mozart, Third Movement of Piano Sonata No. 31 by Beethoven
8. Leçon 8
After Chiaki and Rui's concerto, Nodame and Chiaki spend the night together and she proposes to him in the following morning, just to be rejected by him. However, Chiaki starts to wonder about how serious she was at that time, and Stresseman pays a visit to her. Pieces featured: Piano Concerto in G major by Maurice Ravel and Third Movement of Piano Sonata No. 31 by Beethoven
9. Leçon 9
Nodame has been absent from school and Chiaki starts looking desperately for her, just to find that she was rehearsing for a concerto with Stresseman in London. Pieces featured: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 by Chopin
10. Leçon 10
Nodame's concerto with Stresseman becomes a huge success worldwide. However, she loses the will to keep playing and disappears for a while. Meanwhile, Chiaki finally comes at terms with his feelings for her.
11. La Dernière Leçon
Back in Paris, Nodame spends her days quietly playing for children while her friends wonder if she will ever resume her studies or her career. Determined to put Nodame back on track, Chiaki asks her to play with him-- the same piece they played together when they first met. This episode also tells us what has happened to some of the characters they met in Paris. Piece Featured: Sonata for Two Pianos in D major by Mozart.
