Just found out about this anime that revolves solely around classical music and stuff! :D, It's called Nodame Cantabile... Not bad.. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrpCHXaCK_c

I'm not sure why anyone interested in classical music would want to watch and listen to a few minutes of a Schubert Sonata with occasional voice-overs.

The so-called Nodame Cantabile has also a bizarre version of the second movement of the Beethoven Op 13. What's the point? Pathetique, second movement

Regards,

Because it's interesting to see an anime revolving around classical music which is obviously rare considering classical music's popularity among the younger audiences who watch anime. The point is simply to enjoy the anime's story I guess, just like any other t.v series.

I'd guess that millions of kids a generation ago got their first exposure to classical music from the ten free cartoons at the movies on Saturdays This looks like a similar thing, and anime is quite popular with a certain clientele. This may do much the same - another way to inspire some folks to find it in full!

Cathy

It's not that unusual when you consider that classical music has a much wider mainstream appeal in Japan.

I heard that the anime along with the weekly TV series and movie (made later based on the anime) increased the number of young people who take piano lessons in Japan. The TV series and movies are using movie format with real actors and actors and not anime. At times it's romantic and hilarious. I did not know anything about this until I heard about it from my nieces and nephews in Japan. They all take piano lessons but when they told me that they love Rach piano concerto 2 and Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, I was stunned. I did not remember listening to Rach 2 as an average 8 year old - they are country kids. It turned out that they heard the pieces in the Nodame TV series. So I too watched several Youtube clips.

The story is really cute. A somewhat erratic female piano student ( she used to be a prodigy with perfect hearing and innate musical ability - but lazy and with a bit of hygiene challenge) falls in love with a fellow piano student who has a secret ambition to be a conductor. He is perfect in pianistic ability (a genius), accomplished violinist, son of an internationally famed pianist, grew up in Europe, incredibly analytical, often critical of others and extremely neat. Of course, it's a fairytale - in the end, he becomes a promising conductor and she also begun her career as a concert pianist. What's interesting to me is that the maker of the anime and movies successfully depicted developing relationship through piano! For example, the two main characters (Nodame and Chiaki) played Mozart's D major sonata for two pianos (not the one for four hands) twice in the drama. First at the very beginning when they were forced to play together in their studio and the second time when their feelings blossomed into mutual love. The first performance showed them not completely in sync (although not so bad) but the second performance was in perfect harmony, well balanced performance, reflecting their maturity and love in each other. I asked my husband if it will become a teenage hit in the States. He flatly said no. There is not enough action, no sex, not enough kissing, etc. It won't sell. Of course, it's his opinion (LOL).

It is a very good anime and with classical music. Fun to watch and it can indeed inspire some people to start playing the piano. Me for example
Furthermore, classical music has a certain "charisma" in Japan as everything coming from Western countries. A young man playing the piano in his castle is quite a cliché, but it sells :p
For anyone interested, Nodame Cantabile is a manga, which was then adapted into an anime and a TV series (with real actors). All of them are enjoyable

Edit : for more details, see FarmGirl's post

I've seen the TV series. I loved it. I heard rumors about a second season, did that ever happen?

I feel like such a plebian, this whole time I've been watching Naruto when there is a classical music anime

They made European special - but i am not sure if it's the same as the movie Final Score series taken in Europe.