The video game industry is bigger than Hollywood. Computer games (and their budgets) have evolved and expanded exponentially, so it comes as no surprise that as the graphics improve, become sharper, more detailed, so do the soundtracks, employing entire orchestras and sound designers. Nobuo Uematsu is a video game composer, best known for writing the scores for the hugely popular Final Fantasy series, and whose music has become so well-known and loved through these games that symphonic performances of his works attract large audiences worldwide. Not being overly familiar with the Final Fantasy series myself, I went along anyway as performances of his music (especially outside Japan) aren't all that common, but also because I wanted to witness what must be surely a uniquely 21st century phenomenon: not only world class orchestras playing video game music, but also crowds of video game fans (many in full Final Fantasy regalia) piling into a concert hall to hear and relive their favourite moments of the game. The anticipation and the excitement was something I'm sure many classical-only concert programmes would be envious of, as well as the average age of the audience. Undoubtedly it must have been challenging to reproduce this music live before an audience who, on the whole, knew the music inside out through countless hours of exposure, and the more hardcore fans I spoke to all had reservations about one aspect or another. What perhaps they weren't counting on was how breathtaking it can be to witness a live orchestra in full force, which is something you feel physically in your body (no matter how good your sound system at home is, it can never match this experience!). Much of Uematsu's music really came to life, and I wondered if the composer himself, sitting in the audience that night, was pleased with the job the LSO did. If you are a Final Fantasy fan, then attending a concert like this is surely a must. If, like me, you're simply curious about the whole thing, then I think you're in for a rewarding experience either way.
Violet Grohl
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