Symphony's Romance Episode 1 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Li Zhenyan, a gifted student in the piano department at Baiqi Conservatory of Music, harbors a profound dream of becoming a conductor, a path he believes was promised to him in childhood by the renowned conductor Wainda. Though he excels at the piano, winning the sole solo spot for the school anniversary concert, he feels stifled by what he perceives as lifeless notes within the conservatory.
His ambition to wield a conductor's baton and inspire passion clashes with his current reality. During a practice session, his teacher, Zhang Shangge, discovers a conductor's score among Li Zhenyan's piano music. Enraged, Zhang Shangge berates him, accusing him of neglecting the piano and disregarding his father's expectations. Li Zhenyan fiercely retorts, criticizing Zhang Shangge's teaching, asserting his right to pursue conducting, and sternly warning him not to mention his father again.
The confrontation ends with Zhang Shangge dismissing Li Zhenyan from his class, deeply disappointed. After the argument, Li Zhenyan is drawn by captivating piano music but is interrupted by Jiang Caiwei, his former partner. She expresses concern over his destroyed solo opportunity and his quarrel with Zhang Shangge. She then offers him a Transition Application form for the conducting department, explaining it’s the last thing she can do to help him.
However, Li Zhenyan declines, stating that any effort within the school is futile; his true aspiration is to become Wainda’s disciple on a grand European stage. Jiang Caiwei then presents him with a plane ticket to Vienna, but the sight of it silences Li Zhenyan, revealing a deep-seated fear of flying stemming from a past airplane accident involving his mother. Overwhelmed by his unfulfilled dreams and phobia, Li Zhenyan drowns his sorrows in alcohol.
He collapses near his apartment building, where he is found unconscious by Fang Xiaowo, a free-spirited and somewhat eccentric fellow student, who drags him back to her messy apartment. The next morning, Li Zhenyan awakens to the sound of Fang Xiaowo playing Mozart's Piano Sonata K333, finding the melody unexpectedly "soft and warm." However, his relief is short-lived as he realizes he is in Fang Xiaowo's exceedingly disheveled home.
Disturbed by the chaotic environment and his own fastidious nature, he flees without a word, leaving his wallet behind. Fang Xiaowo later calls him, revealing she has his wallet and knows his name from his ID. He dismisses her offer to return it, stating he will simply reapply for his identification.
Having severed ties with Zhang Shangge, Li Zhenyan reluctantly transfers to Mr. Hu's class, who is known for teaching struggling students, jokingly referring to himself as a "crane engineer" for the "end of the crane" students. To his dismay, Fang Xiaowo is also in Mr. Hu's class. He tries to protest being paired with her, but Mr. Hu, the last teacher willing to take him, warns him that refusal would mean repeating the grade. Li Zhenyan grudgingly agrees.
Their first assignment is Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos, a fast-paced piece. Fang Xiaowo, who boasts an exceptional auditory memory but lacks the habit of reading sheet music, makes numerous errors. Li Zhenyan grows frustrated, insisting she read the score. Mr. Hu mediates, urging Li Zhenyan to be patient, acknowledging Fang Xiaowo's unique talent and lack of formal training. Li Zhenyan, confident in his own abilities, boasts he could master the piece in three days.
That evening, an article of Fang Xiaowo's laundry falls onto Li Zhenyan's balcony. Annoyed, he goes upstairs to her apartment, finding the door unlocked and the interior a scene of utter disarray. His compulsive tendencies take over, and he begins to tidy her entire room. When Fang Xiaowo returns, she is distraught to discover that Li Zhenyan has thrown away her old toy piano, a cherished gift from her mother, into the downstairs garbage station.
Furious, she rushes out to retrieve it. Feeling guilty, Li Zhenyan also goes down to search, where he finds her MP3 player. Fang Xiaowo successfully recovers her toy piano and, in doing so, accidentally stumbles upon Li Zhenyan's discarded "Transition Application" form, which she quietly pockets. Li Zhenyan approaches her, returning her MP3 and sincerely apologizing for discarding her precious toy piano, understanding the pain of having a beloved item dismissed by others. Fang Xiaowo accepts his apology.
News spreads that the acclaimed Chinese conductor, Master Fisher, will be a guest lecturer at the conservatory, specifically to guide Regiment A and the conducting department. Director Meng is instructed by the principal to make preparations. When Qin Fen informs Li Zhenyan and introduces him to Tian Yisong, a promising conducting student with aspirations for European study, Li Zhenyan feels a renewed sense of loss and despair.
He reflects on his inability to move forward due to his flying phobia and wonders if he will ever again experience the "trembling" joy of music that Wainda spoke of. Convinced that his instructional approach is flawed, Li Zhenyan tells Fang Xiaowo he no longer wishes to practice the dual piano sonata. Fang Xiaowo, however, is persistent.
She tries to lift his spirits, reminding him that dreams are a vital first step, demonstrating her unconventional musicality by improvising "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on a collection of household items. Initially annoyed, Li Zhenyan eventually relents and invites her in for dinner. After their meal, he attempts to guide her through Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos (K. 448) once more, emphasizing the importance of reading the score and infusing the music with appropriate emotion.
Despite Fang Xiaowo's efforts to follow the score, she continues to make rhythmic mistakes. Frustrated, Li Zhenyan asks her to continue studying the score alone while he takes a moment to calm down. During this solitary moment, Li Zhenyan has a profound realization. He recognizes that his demanding and rigid teaching style with Fang Xiaowo mirrors the very methods of his disliked former teacher, Zhang Shangge.
At that moment, he overhears Fang Xiaowo playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on the piano with heartfelt emotion, completely unburdened by a score. This experience allows Li Zhenyan to understand that music can be expressed authentically without strict adherence to notation, and that his own rigid approach was stifling both himself and Fang Xiaowo. The next day, he tells Fang Xiaowo she no longer needs to rely on the score and that he will adapt his playing to hers. Delighted, Fang Xiaowo plays with newfound freedom, and their dual piano performance slowly begins to harmonize.
