It all started when I received
Distant Worlds' e-newsletter in my inbox round about November last year. By then, tickets were already selling like hot cakes and I absolutely did not want to miss this out, especially as it was the only stop Distant Worlds was making in Australia! Didn't take long before I got some pals to come along, bought the tickets (concession available), booked our flights to Sydney etc etc. The event was set for April 15th and 16th 2011, Friday and Saturday respectively, and thank the skies, I had the time.
Dress code This being my first orchestra (by Sydney Symphony and at the Sydney Opera House too!), I was curious to find out about the dress code, but, as I recall, I couldn't find any official information. So, my friends and I just dressed smart casual, nothing too fancy, as the weather wasn't too good either. I was half-expecting some cosplayers around and sure enough, there were a few [
UPDATE: So apparently Square Enix had sent out an email asking people not to wear cosplay costumes to the event. So don't :P] Some dressed really casually too.
Unfortunately, the lights in and around the Sydney Opera House were really dim and not photograph-friendly at all, so excuse me for the lack of photos in this post. I lost my camera so I've lost all photos from the event itself and most of my other sightseeing escapades in Sydney! :(((
Merchandise We arrived at 7.30pm, just enough time to wander around outside the Concert Hall. There were booths selling merchandises, including Distant Worlds' albums ($20 each), posters and T-shirts (which were sold out by the time the orchestra was over, so if you want, you'd better get it before the show starts, me thinks!).
Seats I am new to live orchestra so I had sought some advice about good seats and was told that seats about 14 rows from the stage were where recordings for orchestras were done so, 14th row it was, or somewhere close to that (This may not be true for all orchestras, and the advice was not based on the Sydney Opera House anyway). Having a general understanding of the arrangements of instruments on-stage may help too. Not surprisingly, the seats we got were amazing, in the ground stalls near the centre, with a full view of the stage (for these seats, it was $89.00 on student concession, $99 for regular tickets).
On with the show Introductions were short and the man himself, Nobuo Uematsu, after receiving a deafening applause, sat just 4 rows in front of where we were! Of course, with a body guard to shoo away eager fans who had not gotten a meet and greet ticket (like me.. For your information, the meet and greet tickets were an additional $50). Arnie Roth took charge from there.
The show began with a selection of Final Fantasy music familiar to the majority of fans including
To Zanarkand (FFX),
Liberi Fatali (FFVIII) and
Aerith's Theme (FFVII) . In the second half, music from more recent titles dominated, including those from Final Fantasy XIV and also compositions of Masashi Hamazu from Final Fantasy XIII. Some songs from older titles (FFV and FFVI) were played as well and Kanon, a singer from Japan, flew in to be the solo vocalist. In total, about 20 songs were performed and the entire show, including a short intermission, went for 2 hours and a half. It was a great night, surrounded with 200 over other fans of all ages.
If you are a Final Fantasy and Nobuo Uematsu fan, I highly recommend attending one of their concerts close to you, if you can. I know I couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to my favourite music live and orchestrated. You can check their dates and sites of performances on their website - they've already got a whole lot of performances lined up. I will just like to add: although Nobuo Uematsu's songs are amazing, some of the music played that night, I felt, had been played either too fast and too rushed, or just too slow. Listening through their album, however, I didn't find this to be so - their recording on the CD is great.
You may have already noticed: I avoided details of the concert because I'd like to leave you with just that bit of anticipation and surprise. What kind of fun would it be if I'd taken that away and spoiled you crazy?
Excuse me now, as I take a trip down nostalgia road, game controller in hand.
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