Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds, 3/10/12
Sunday, 11 March 2012 16:31![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_bit_of_wit_2Back from a weekend in Boston, and back from an amazing concert.
To put it simply, the Distant Worlds concerts are nothing more than love letters to Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for most of the Final Fantasy series (1-9, some of 10 & 11, one piece for 12, and all of 14). Highlighting some of Uematsu's best works from this iconic series, what better place to hear this amazing music in this beautiful building known as Symphony Hall? To be in the same building where of the world's best orchestras call home is a thrill in itself, but to hear the full Video Game Orchestra, along with great soloists and a fabulous choir...you had to be there.
Each piece was accompanied by a video portrayed on a large projection screen above the orchestra, with scenes from whatever game that piece belonged to.
We also had a special guest--even though Uematsu wasn't present, we did have composer Masashi Hamauzu (who was just a few rows behind us). I'm not too familiar with Hamauzu's body of work, but some of you may have heard his soundtracks--he's done all of FF13, some of FF10, provided vocals for FF7's "One-Winged Angel," and has done some other games, like Unlimited Saga.
The set list for the concert was as follows (all works by Uematsu unless indicated otherwise):
Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds
Symphony Hall, Boston, 3/10/12
1) Prelude (FF series)
2) Liberi Fatali (FF8)
3) Victory Theme (FF series)
4) Don't Be Afraid (FF8)
5) Zanarkand (FF10)
6) Memoro de la Stono--Distant Worlds (FF11)
7) Dear Friends (FF5)
8) Vamo' alla Flamenco (FF9)
9) Aerith's Theme (FF7)
10) Chocobo Medley (FF series)
-Intermission-
11) Opening/Bombing Mission (FF7)
12) Dancing Mad (FF6)
13) The Promise (Masashi Hamauzu, FF13)
14) Blinded By Light (Masashi Hamauzu, FF13)
15) Fisherman's Horizon (FF8)
16) Opera of Maria and Draco (FF6)
17) Terra's Theme (FF6)
Encore: One-Winged Angel (FF7)
I left the hall such a happy Final Fantasy fanboy, before it was back on the subway and back to the hotel.
An amazing concert, all in all. I wanted more music (and so did the rest of the audience), but what we got was sufficient. Although I would've happily stayed for hours more. Hopefully the Distant Worlds tour comes back this way soon...now, I just hope that Video Games Live and the Zelda Symphony head up here...
To put it simply, the Distant Worlds concerts are nothing more than love letters to Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for most of the Final Fantasy series (1-9, some of 10 & 11, one piece for 12, and all of 14). Highlighting some of Uematsu's best works from this iconic series, what better place to hear this amazing music in this beautiful building known as Symphony Hall? To be in the same building where of the world's best orchestras call home is a thrill in itself, but to hear the full Video Game Orchestra, along with great soloists and a fabulous choir...you had to be there.
Each piece was accompanied by a video portrayed on a large projection screen above the orchestra, with scenes from whatever game that piece belonged to.
We also had a special guest--even though Uematsu wasn't present, we did have composer Masashi Hamauzu (who was just a few rows behind us). I'm not too familiar with Hamauzu's body of work, but some of you may have heard his soundtracks--he's done all of FF13, some of FF10, provided vocals for FF7's "One-Winged Angel," and has done some other games, like Unlimited Saga.
The set list for the concert was as follows (all works by Uematsu unless indicated otherwise):
Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds
Symphony Hall, Boston, 3/10/12
1) Prelude (FF series)
2) Liberi Fatali (FF8)
3) Victory Theme (FF series)
4) Don't Be Afraid (FF8)
5) Zanarkand (FF10)
6) Memoro de la Stono--Distant Worlds (FF11)
7) Dear Friends (FF5)
8) Vamo' alla Flamenco (FF9)
9) Aerith's Theme (FF7)
10) Chocobo Medley (FF series)
-Intermission-
11) Opening/Bombing Mission (FF7)
12) Dancing Mad (FF6)
13) The Promise (Masashi Hamauzu, FF13)
14) Blinded By Light (Masashi Hamauzu, FF13)
15) Fisherman's Horizon (FF8)
16) Opera of Maria and Draco (FF6)
17) Terra's Theme (FF6)
Encore: One-Winged Angel (FF7)
I left the hall such a happy Final Fantasy fanboy, before it was back on the subway and back to the hotel.
An amazing concert, all in all. I wanted more music (and so did the rest of the audience), but what we got was sufficient. Although I would've happily stayed for hours more. Hopefully the Distant Worlds tour comes back this way soon...now, I just hope that Video Games Live and the Zelda Symphony head up here...
