Distant Worlds brought near
19 Apr 2019
THE MALAYSIAN Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) proved that it can perform more
than just the classics with its recent presentation of Distant Worlds: Music
from Final Fantasy at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), KLCC.
After 12 years of great music from
the videogame series Final Fantasy by composer Nobuo Uematsu, Distant Worlds
holds few surprises. Nevertheless, it was still a treat for admirers of both
good music and the Final Fantasy video games alike.
But first, a little bit of
background. Final Fantasy was intended to be the swan song for videogame
company Square, which at the time was on the brink of closure, hence the name.
Thirty-two years, 15 main-numbered
entries in the series, and innumerable spinoffs later, it is one of the most
well-known and beloved videogame franchises.
The DFP has played host to Distant
Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy twice before: once in 2012 and again in
2014.
Always a crowd-pleaser, the concert
doubles as the perfect introduction to those new to the orchestral experience,
and showcases the DFP and the MPO’s full range.
The hall was packed on the first day
of the concert. There were as many people there to enjoy the music as they were
people who were there to be seen, and people dragged there by their children or
significant other.
Never have I seen so many in the
concert hall taking selfies, and pictures of each other.
There was even someone who brought
out a professional mirrorless camera. It was quite a spectacle. The atmosphere
in the DFP was out of the ordinary.
Leading the MPO that night was none
other than Grammy award-winner Arnie Roth, the conductor who worked closely
with legendary composer Uematsu to make Distant Worlds: Music from Final
Fantasy a reality.
This year’s Distant Worlds
presentation comprised 20 songs and medleys that took the audience on an
adventure through the many worlds of Final Fantasy and not just the favoured
few.
The concert was enhanced by a large
screen that hung above the orchestra displaying clips, cut-scenes, and names of
the game from which each piece of music came from.
The extraordinary Dithyrambic
Singers added its magic to the whole atmosphere.
However, most of the time, I just
closed my eyes and enjoyed the beautiful music.
Distractions aside, the MPO was
brilliant. Honestly, I am not a fan of Final Fantasy. I was firmly in the
Xenogears camp when the Final Fantasy bandwagon took off. That said, I still
enjoyed the show.
Although most of the compositions
played that night were by Uematsu, some (especially the newer pieces) were
composed by other greats such as Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, Masayoshi
Soken, Yasunori Mitsuda, Naoshi Mizuta, and Masashi Hamauzu.
The lineup was a fantastic mix of
melancholic pieces like Uematsu’s Theme of Love from Final Fantasy IV,
to Sakimoto’s heroic Flash of Steel, to the fun Chocobo Medley 2012
by Uematsu, Mizuta and Hamauzu.
There were also crowd-pleasers like
Uematsu’s Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X, as well as new pieces to the
concert, including Uematsu’s Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy VIII.
Concerts such as this do not happen
very often, and it is hoped that it would open the hearts and minds of new and
loyal fans to what the DFP and MPO can do.
There is something special about a
performance by the MPO in this particular concert hall.
The cosy surroundings, the excellent
acoustics, and the talented orchestra, all cumulate into a unique experience
where the conductor could speak directly to the audience about the music, get
feedback, and even get the audience to participate in the performance.
