Symphony's Romance Episode 25 Recap
> Symphony's Romance Recap
Fang Xiaowo rushed backstage to find Li Zhenyan, giving him a small fabric rabbit doll. She explained it was her talisman and would bring him good luck, telling him to take it on stage to keep him from being nervous. He asked where to put it, and she said anywhere. Then, to avoid being caught, she quickly left the area. Soon after, the announcer introduced contestant number eighteen, Li Zhenyan from China, who was to conduct Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
Some audience members immediately voiced their skepticism, questioning how a Chinese conductor could properly interpret Beethoven, especially since he had drawn the same piece as the renowned Joe Mott. Li Zhenyan began his performance. At one point, he paused the orchestra to address a violinist, explaining the profound meaning behind the symphony's opening four notes, which Beethoven famously described as "fate knocking at the door," written during a period of immense personal despair, including his encroaching deafness.
Li Zhenyan then gave precise instructions to the orchestra, clarifying that the violin's first four notes needed to be shorter and more distinct, the horn as loud as a fanfare, and the string section handled more carefully, especially their rhythm, which dictates the overall tempo.
He reflected that, like Beethoven, he was facing a test of fate, and to stand out among countless conductors who had performed this piece, he had to find his own interpretation of the "Fate Symphony," asserting, "Fate, at my disposal." Later, the judges acknowledged his performance was engaging; one judge noted that while he initially thought Li Zhenyan's emotional grasp was insufficient, he now believed Li Zhenyan understood the piece's framework and perfectly contrasted its dynamics.
Another added that Beethoven's work, a microcosm of life, needed more than just solemnity and darkness. They were particularly impressed by his unique interpretation of the string section, suggesting he must have played string instruments before. After a challenging preliminary round, Li Zhenyan successfully advanced to the semi-finals. As he and Fang Xiaowo were leaving, they encountered Tian Yisong and Sasha.
Sasha, who was Tian Yisong's girlfriend, congratulated Li Zhenyan on passing and revealed that Tian Yisong had directly entered the semi-finals through a master's recommendation, expressing excitement for the next round. Later, while dining together, Fang Xiaowo noticed Li Zhenyan's somber expression when Tian Yisong mentioned his teacher. Tian Yisong then announced that he was now Master Wainda's apprentice, which further unsettled Li Zhenyan.
Sasha, who still seemed to harbor feelings for Tian Yisong, expressed jealousy of Fang Xiaowo's relationship with Li Zhenyan, wondering what she needed to do for Tian Yisong to truly see her. After they parted ways, Fang Xiaowo noticed Li Zhenyan’s low spirits. He assured her he was fine, stating that even though Wainda was now Tian Yisong’s teacher, it didn't mean he couldn't also become his student.
He considered both Joe Mott and Tian Yisong formidable opponents, believing he needed to defeat them to earn a place as Wainda’s student, and affirmed he would not give up. Fang Xiaowo, relieved, affectionately pulled him down to her height and kissed him multiple times, jokingly saying she was "recharging" him so he wouldn't be defeated. The semi-finals involved conductors identifying errors in an orchestra's performance.
Li Zhenyan demonstrated his exceptional ear and musical knowledge, pinpointing several subtle mistakes, such as a second clarinet playing like an oboe, a missing timpani section, a viola playing a second violin part, a clarinet’s pitch being too high, and the first oboe playing a C instead of an A-flat. His precise and confident corrections left a strong impression. Following the semi-finals, reporters swarmed Tian Yisong, asking if his excellent performance made his advancement to the finals a certainty.
He confidently stated that winning the championship was his ultimate goal. A reporter then highlighted that a Chinese conductor had never won the Platini International Young Conductor Contest. Tian Yisong, after claiming his success was due to hard work rather than genius, then mentioned Li Zhenyan, revealing him to be "Li Yazhe’s son."
This revelation caused reporters to abandon Tian Yisong and mob Li Zhenyan, bombarding him with questions about his father, his performance (including a reporter asking if he pointed out non-existent errors), and Li Yazhe's current whereabouts. Visibly upset, Li Zhenyan quickly pulled Fang Xiaowo away from the crowd. Back home, Fang Xiaowo found Li Zhenyan drinking alone. She joined him, sensing his distress.
He admitted that his father, Li Yazhe, hadn't seen him since he was seven, and he was determined not to let his father's presence disrupt his emotions again. Fang Xiaowo gently suggested that Tian Yisong's actions might provoke Li Yazhe to seek him out. Li Zhenyan's expression darkened, so Fang Xiaowo quickly changed the subject, stating that any decisions made late at night, besides eating and sleeping, usually lead to regret.
Li Zhenyan then invited her to drink with him, and they chatted into the night, eventually falling asleep together. The next morning, their roommate Daliya, coming to call them for breakfast, discovered them asleep in the same bed. Li Zhenyan, startled, quickly tried to explain that they had simply been drinking and fallen asleep, but Daliya, clearly embarrassed, awkwardly left. Moments later, Li Zhenyan’s phone, which had been ringing in the living room, turned out to be the Organizing Committee.
He answered and learned he had passed the semi-finals and advanced to the finals, where he would be required to conduct an entire piece. Fang Xiaowo, overhearing the news, joyfully embraced him, bouncing on the bed until he playfully worried she might break it. Meanwhile, back in China, Qin Fen had secured a new rehearsal space for the RS Orchestra. The former car repair shop owner, a music lover, had lent it to them for free.
Qin Fen enthusiastically gathered the orchestra members, proclaiming it their new beginning. However, the group faced a significant problem: a shortage of members. Zhuo Yin had decided to quit, and many others who had initially joined because of Li Zhenyan’s presence had also left. Lan Bo stepped up, promising to persuade Zhuo Yin to return, prioritizing the orchestra's needs. Qin Fen also volunteered to find suitable performance invitations for them.
As the finals approached, both Li Zhenyan and Tian Yisong had to draw their assigned pieces. Li Zhenyan, hoping to avoid Tchaikovsky, which he referred to as "old Chai," asked Fang Xiaowo to draw for him, believing her good luck would help. Fate, however, intervened, and Fang Xiaowo drew Tchaikovsky for him.
Despite this, Li Zhenyan accepted the challenge, stating that both he and Tian Yisong had drawn pieces they were less familiar with, which ensured a fair competition, and he was determined to win. He then began practicing the piece day and night. Late one evening, as he rehearsed in his room, the lights suddenly dimmed. He stepped out to investigate and found a video projection playing in the living room.
It was a compilation of encouraging messages from the RS Orchestra members, which Fang Xiaowo had arranged. His former rival He Shengliang, now the RS conductor, acknowledged Li Zhenyan as a worthy opponent and urged him to win. Other members expressed their unwavering confidence in his talent and hard work, telling him to relax and secure first place.
Fang Xiaowo herself appeared in the video, promising to be by his side no matter the outcome, and encouraging him to live without regrets. Li Zhenyan, deeply moved, realized he had been losing his way and had almost forgotten that the best music comes from following one's heart. He asked Fang Xiaowo to "lend him some strength" to interpret his final piece in a new way, and then kissed her.
That same evening, Fang Xiaowo called Lin Qingshang, who confirmed she would arrive in Paris next Monday. Fang Xiaowo realized this was the day of the finals and she couldn't pick her up. Lin Qingshang, intrigued, asked for the address, hoping to attend the competition herself, and Fang Xiaowo insisted she stay with them. On the day of the finals, Elise arrived at the venue, having been sent by Fisher.
Tian Yisong was already performing his piece, which Li Zhenyan observed was impressively executed, despite it being a piece Tian Yisong wasn't typically known for. Backstage, Li Zhenyan was preparing when an unforeseen crisis struck: his orchestra's lead violinist suddenly fell ill and was unable to perform.
The Organizing Committee informed a distressed Li Zhenyan that he had only thirty minutes to find a replacement violinist who was familiar with the piece and could quickly integrate with the orchestra, or he would be forced to forfeit. Just as he believed it was impossible, Fang Xiaowo, looking at her phone, exclaimed that Lin Qingshang had just arrived. Seizing this last hope, Li Zhenyan urgently rushed to Lin Qingshang, pleading with her to step in.
He quickly laid out his case: Lin Qingshang had a track record of playing Tchaikovsky brilliantly, their long-standing collaboration in the A and RS orchestras meant they had excellent chemistry and wouldn't need time to rehearse. Acknowledging the immense challenge of playing with a new professional orchestra on such short notice, he emphasized that he had no other option and desperately asked if she would help him.
