Final Fantasy symphony concert in US!

[sxesven]

"DEAR FRIENDS - MUSIC FROM FINAL FANTASY-" CONCERT SERIES TO KICK OFF FEBRUARY 19, 2005, IN CHICAGO

Success of First Stateside FINAL FANTASY Orchestral Performance Generates Tour Celebrating Video Game Music

LOS ANGELES, Calif., December 14, 2004 - Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that a FINAL FANTASY® symphony concert series will kick off on Saturday, February 19, 2005, at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL. The concert, to be performed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the CPO Festival Choir, will be the first in a series of long awaited concerts in North America featuring award-winning music from Square Enix's world-renowned FINAL FANTASY video game series. Outstanding graphics will tie memorable moments from the video games along with the scores on massive screens during the performance.

"After the fantastic support received at the first concert in Los Angeles, I am thrilled and honored to extend the experience to Chicago," said series composer Nobuo Uematsu. "I'm looking forward to sharing the moments with those who love the music and games of FINAL FANTASY."

"The first FINAL FANTASY concert in the U.S. brought fans from far and wide together in Los Angeles to share in an unforgettable musical experience," said Ichiro Otobe, president and COO of Square Enix, Inc. "We are pleased to announce that, due to the overwhelmingly positive response, a North American tour will soon bring the emotionally moving and powerful scores to fans across the country."

The 2-hour program produced by Uematsu, will be conducted by Grammy award winning Arnie Roth, music director and principal conductor of the Chicagoland Pops. This concert is presented by the orchestra in association with Jason Michael Paul Productions. VIP tickets will be available for this performance, offering fans a meet and greet opportunity with Uematsu. All tickets including the VIP meet and greet are available at the box office, Ticketmaster locations, by credit card at 312-559-1212 or on the internet at www.ticketmaster.com/venue/32892.

Building upon the success of the 2002 FINAL FANTASY concert held in Japan, Square Enix announced a six-city, seven-show tour of Japan titled "Tour de Japon - Music from FINAL FANTASY-," for 2004. The first stateside concert, "Dear Friends -Music from FINAL FANTASY-," followed on May 10, 2004 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA and sold out in three days. It featured music from Square Enix's world-renowned FINAL FANTASY video game series, performed by the acclaimed Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The positive reception of this performance gave rise to the U.S. concert series beginning next year.

Video game music has grown increasingly popular in the last few years. With the technology available in today's gaming consoles, video game music has moved beyond the stereotypical blips and bleeps of its predecessors and become far more sophisticated. Music plays an integral role in today's games, enhancing players' overall experience. While still a growing market, video game soundtracks are now sold in major outlets and include a variety of genres such as rock, hip-hop, electronica, classical compositions, and songs performed by popular artists. The FINAL FANTASY soundtracks, which are original compositions, have grown so popular that Time magazine named series composer Nobuo Uematsu a notable "Innovator" in its recent "Time 100: The Next Wave – Music" feature. Square Enix hopes to pioneer awareness and appreciation of not only its own musical creations, but also video game music throughout the industry.

More information here and here.

[Nu-NRG]

@_@
i want to go...the symphony final fantasy..
thanks for the info

[Raleigh]

Wow.. those are really awesome.. I listened to some concerts of FF in the past and they're just..amazing. I wish I lived in the US now... @.@

[rainbowseason]

ya i think they already had one here
2 months ago
or was it last month
i wanted to go see it at first then i sorta
lol
didn't decide to go

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by rainbowseason

ya i think they already had one here
2 months ago
or was it last month
i wanted to go see it at first then i sorta
lol
didn't decide to go

Correct - there have been a couple of symphony concerts before (7 to be exact) in 2004.

[tinyppl]

"Outstanding graphics will tie memorable moments from the video games along with the scores on massive screens during the performance"

T_T

Oh my god this is so cool. I've been an avid fan of FINAL FANTASY music and game and have collected soundtracks of FF8, FF9, FF10 and FF10-2~ they're just amazing. Although they are mostly music without words, they can almost touch you to tears with just instrumental music, XDDDD

But they'll never come to Singapore to perform, that's something I'm quite sure of >.<

xx HAIL to Nobuo Uemastu xx

[sxesven]

Originally Posted by tinyppl

Oh my god this is so cool. I've been an avid fan of FINAL FANTASY music and game and have collected soundtracks of FF8, FF9, FF10 and FF10-2~ they're just amazing. Although they are mostly music without words, they can almost touch you to tears with just instrumental music, XDDDD

Be sure to check out the older soundtracks as well - especially VI and VII - both brilliant, especially VI.

[tinyppl]

Originally Posted by sxesven

Be sure to check out the older soundtracks as well - especially VI and VII - both brilliant, especially VI.

I download those XD

[hana_sanctuary]

*checks the ticketmaster locations* I certainly hope the orchestra is playing in Los Angeles again... that would be great... and it doesn't seem like it. Hopefully they tour again u.u;;

[Cientifik]

Ooooh, I've always wanted to go to a Final Fantasy Orchestra performance. They are incredible, great music indeed. My brother is going to see the Trans-Siberian orchestra this sunday. I'm jealous but it's a date so I don't wanna crowd if ya know what I mean. But I wanna go to an actual performance so bad.

[nmskalmn]

May 16, 2005
Universal Amphitheatre
Los Angeles, CA

Arnie Roth (conductor)
The World Festival Symphony Orchestra
The CSUF University Singers,
The Black Mages and additional guest performers

http://www.square-enix.com/uematsu/c...e_friends.html

[sxesven]

Sounds great, I'd love to go.

On a sidenote, I recently learned that there may be a number of Final Fantasy symphonic concerts in the UK and possibly elsewhere in Europe (James informed me on this). I'll see if I can find the article.

[Delirium-Zer0]

Aw man, Black Mages are gonna be there ~_~ I'd love to go to that.

[yys113]

I have the 20020220 Concert CD (downloaded) and the quality is just professional. Of course, what else do you expect from Nobuo Uetmasu, the person that gives Final Fantasy its soul.

[tinyppl]

Anyone who's going. Please do comment on what happened at the concert!