Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Op18

It may seem unfamiliar but part of it indeed appeared in many movies and dramas.

Last concerto composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff between the autumn of 1900 and April 1901, he has reflected his emotion of battling with his illness in it. Beginning with anxiety, gradually he overcame it and led into an ecstatic coda!

In Nodame Cantabile, Shinichi Chiaki was frustrated when he was first asked to perform this song by his teacher. Stressed by Maestro Franz von Stresemann in every single practice, but his final advice to Chiaki before the performance was ... "Do it in your very own unique way with all your hearts! You have done very well and now is the time we enjoy this joyous musical moment!"

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
I. Moderato
II. Adagio sostenuto
III. Allegro scherzando



I'm amused by this comical piano duet in Nodame Cantabile. After Chiaki's concert, Nodame was practicing continuously for days in hope that she would be a good match for him. When finally Chiaki dragged her to the music room to fulfill her desire...



Despite Nodame handicapped sight reading, Chiaki was still inspired by her enthusiasm to play and continued to accompany her through out the entire song.