As you may or may not know, I attended the Final Fantasy concert this past Saturday night. Aly suggested that I come here and share my experience. ^_^
This is pasted from my journal:

The. Concert. Was. WONDERFUL!

We left on Saturday Morning... enjoyed a nice four-hour ride to Chicago. Paying all of the tolls and constantly digging for change got annoying. Once I got into Rosemont, I realized that I made reservations at the wrong Hyatt (at the Hyatt Rosemont, down the street). Luckily they just transferred the reservation to the Hyatt O'Hare, without charging me anything. Phew. Once we got there we parked our butts in the room for a while (it was strange being there without all of the cosplayers walking arond!) After a while we met up with devil_in_gray and his girlfriend Morgan just after they arrived, for just a brief time before the concert.

Andy and I got dressed and went down to the theatre... made our way through the crowded lobby, talked with a few people, eventually went in and got our seats.... and... Ahhhh! It was muchly wonderful. I think the line-up was the same as the one performed at the first concert in L.A. There were three big plasma-screen TVs along the top of the stage to show some videos (either close-ups of the orchestra playing, or CGs from the games). The orchestra opened with "Liberi Fatali", following afterwards with "Zakarkand", then "Terra's Theme", "Theme of Love", "Dear Friends", and "Vamo Alla Flamenco" (which was one of both mine and Andy's favorites-- such a playful and upbeat version!!), and concluding the first session with "Love Grows".

Beginning the second session, after intermission, was... "Aerith's Theme". I'm so glad they didn't show any sad FMVs on the big screens. -_- I thought it would have been a little tactless and too depressing (luckily, the videos they were showing along with the music seemed to be spoiler free, which was thoughtful of them). Aerith's theme got a standing ovation. Next was "You're Not Alone" (which I LOVE for some reason, even though I haven't played FF9), then Ronfaure from FFXI (which I also haven't played), a medley of songs from Final Fantasy 1, 2, and 3 (which was wonderful-- even had the Chocobo theme tucked in there, which set the audience giggling and clapping!), following with a curious new song from "Advent Children" (very peaceful with a gentle-happiness undertone, like a nostalgic sigh), and they closed with the "Final Fantasy" theme (nicely played)...

The whole concert was like a big climax. ^_^ Mr. Uematsu came out afterwards and thanked everybody; he asked the audience if they knew about his band, "The Black Mages", and if anyone would come see The Black Mages if they went on tour. Of course everyone cheered.

He also asked who was from Chicago; next, who was from Illinois in general; then who was from out of state; then from "other countries"; then he asked who was from New York. (If they announced New York as a tour spot, I'd definitely make a point of taking a road trip to go and seeing it again!)

After Mr. Uematsu came out and spoke, the orchestra finished with an encore, playing "One Winged Angel".

There were a few cosplayers walking around... Sort of strange, but I thought it was sorta cool, that they had the nerve to do show their fandom in such a hardcore way. I also saw these two beautiful nice-looking girls with super long, gorgeously cared-for hair, which I loved and couldn't stop looking at! Lots of people in suits and nice dresses, many in jeans and t-shirts... It really highlighted the great variation of the people there. I thought about wearing my hair like Quistis or something since that's the easiest one for me to pull off but thought I'd just go with my typical braid pigtails instead... Haha. They are more accomodating for my favorite hat after all. ^_^

Afterwards was fun, hung out with Joe and Morgan some more, then went back to the hotel and crashed (I was so tired). The new Hyatt beds are so comfy. In the morning we all went to Mitsuwa (of course) but since I felt pretty crappy from girly-related problems, I couldn't enjoy it much, unfortunately! Andy and I did buy a few boxes of curry which I am looking forward to making over the next few days. ^_^

We eventually said goodbye to Morgan and Joe and we drove alllllll the way back home. It was raining most of the way, and eventually turned to snow/sleet-- we saw at least eleven cars that had spun out and were laying in ditches or had run into either the barrier or other cars. So I was careful, and drove very slow. ;_; And now, we're back, and there is a nice, thick beautiful coat of snow over everything! It's quite beautiful. *Loves the snow*

It was so much fun; such an exhausting trip. *Exhale* Now that I'm back I can't wait to just relax and take a nice hot bat or something.

I wish I could remember the "Advent Children" melody better than I do.

I can tell you my impressions of it:

It was a peaceful, warm and gentle melody, which contrasted greatly from the industrial and cold scenes we've seen so far. I couldn't help but think of closeness, nostalgia. At the end, though, an oboe started to play, and I felt peace and closure. I was thinking, maybe this has something to do with Aerith (there was a sequence of four notes that struck me as similar to four notes in Aerith's theme, but it could be coincidence, or my imagination)... But who knows. It definitely made me more anxious to see this movie. ^_^;

Anyway, if anyone has any questions, I'd love to answer them! I hope you've enjoyed my account of the concert. Anyone else go? I'd love to hear your story, and what your impressions of the new melody were. ^_^

You're so lucky you got to go, Sarabella! Thanks for sharing all of it with us! :D

The music from FFVII AC sounds beautiful. I can't wait to hear it. :rolleyes: The rest of the music is fantastic, too. Did they perform the AC version of One Winged Angel, or the original version?

Did Nubuo have anything more to say to the audience? What'd you think of him? Was he talking through an interpreter, or does he know enough English to manage on his own?

I'm glad you got home safely, with all those car spinouts happening! It sounds like you had so much fun, though. I hope he comes to the Boston area!

Thanks for telling us about it! :D

My friend was there!
She was so lucky ;___;
There was a translator there, since she said she was laughing out loud before anyone else (before the translator said in english). So if you heard a very loud hyper girl laughing and yelling in japanese, that's her XD

OMG!!! You're so lucky you got to attend!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so envious!><;;
But, I'm glad you had an awesome time. From what you said, the concert sounded beautiful! I wish it would come to my area. *crosses fingures*

Another report on the concert in Chicago was given at RPGamer, which can be found here: http://www.rpgamer.com/people/carlisle/dfimpression.html

"Uematsu does Chicago
by Elliot Guisinger

In May 2004, Los Angeles, California, hosted North America's premier symphonic concert of orchestrated video game music. The concert was none other than Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy, which was not the same concert that was held in Japan in February 2002. The concert featured arranged music, from famed video game music composer, Nobuo Uematsu, played by a live orchestra and choir. The show opened to a warm reception and left fans of Uematsu's music wanting more. It wasn't long afterwards that the announcement of a North American tour of the Dear Friends program was made, with the first stop in Chicago, Illinois.

"The orchestra was virtually perfect..."
The Chicagoland POPS Orchestra and Festival Choir performed to a sold-out crowd on February 19, at the Rosemont Theatre. Crowds of people lined up outside the building in 20-degree weather before being allowed in to take their seats. Though most people were dressed appropriately for the show, the house was not without a few die-hard fans decked out in clothes based on characters from the Final Fantasy series. If one were so inclined, the show's program could be purchased for $20 and posters and t-shirts were also being sold for $10 and $20 respectively. In the concert hall itself was, of course, the stage. Suspended above the stage were three large screens, which displayed various scenes from different Final Fantasy games, corresponding to the song being performed at the time.

The crowd burst into applause when Mr. Uematsu himself emerged into the seating area to take his seat among his fans, which was exciting, to say the least. In fact, the concert master appeared shortly afterward to virtually no notice and little applause. After the orchestra was tuned, the conductor, Mr. Arnie Roth appeared and took his place at the head of the orchestra. After opening the show with a powerful rendition of FFVIII's Liberi Fatali, the introductions were made, and Gene Honda appeared as the night's Master of Ceremonies.

The entire concert ran roughly an hour and a half. The program included the following pieces:

Liberi Fatali (FFVIII)
Zanarkand (FFX)
Terra's Theme (FFVI)
Theme of Love (FFIV)
Dear Friends (FFV)
Vamo' Alla Flamenco (FFIX)
Love Grows (FFVIII)

INTERMISSION

Aeris's Theme (FFVII)
Not Alone (FFIX)
Ronfaure (FFXI)
Final Fantasy I-III Medley
New Melody from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Final Fantasy

Though the entire show was impressive, there were a few noteworthy pieces. The orchestral rendition of Zanarkand was a breath-taking new approach to the formerly piano-only piece. Vamo' Alla Flamenco, with the live classical guitar, was done brilliantly with the inclusion of a full orchestra. Furthermore, Aeris's Theme, probably the key piece in the show, received a standing ovation from the audience. (*squee* :D) The only disappointment with the program was that it felt more like a popular music concert, than a symphonic concert. The audience cheered and applauded at the end of every piece and, in some cases, in the middle of a song. Though this may not seem like a problem for some, this is not usual concert etiquette and can be considered quite annoying by those who want to hear the music uninterrupted by cheers and hollers.

After the last piece played, Maestro Arnie Roth invited Nobuo Uematsu on stage for a few words to his fans. Being unable to speak English, he was accompanied by a translator. In his speech, after joking with the audience a bit for some laughs, Nobuo hinted at the continuation of the Dear Friends concert tour, in San Francisco, and at the idea of a global tour. He also hinted at the possibility of a U.S. tour of his rock band, the Black Mages. Before leaving the stage, Mr. Uematsu announced one last piece, unlisted in the program, as an encore: One-winged Angel, the most well-received piece of the night.

The presentation of the concert was very well-executed. The orchestra was virtually perfect and was accompanied on some of the pieces by a flawless choir. From the gripping first lines of Liberi Fatali to the last note of One-winged Angel, the concert created and maintained a level of excitement and energy well beyond the end of the show. The program proved that video game music is more-than-worthy of being recognized as a valid form of music for any audience. Whether one is a fan of Uematsu's music or not, they should be able to appreciate how well the show sounded and was pulled off. For those who were fans of Uematsu's music to begin with, this show was, at the very least, a night to remember."

*WOULD DIE IF HE DID A TOUR IN CANADA*

Everyone who went is so lucky. :(

:o You went?!?!? I WAS THERE TOO! ^___^ I'm so happy to know that one of us went to that thing~! Only I rode 11 hours to get there x_x. I'm from Springfield, Missouri, so I had a loooong way to go.

I can't agree more with what you said about the Advent Children song. I wanted to remember it forever. I only remember one tiny interval, and I know it was around a 6th or a 7th maybe that was repeated a few times. *sigh* I am definitely going to another one.

And I was more than happy to stand and give that standing ovation to Aeris's theme. I cried (I admit it!) because it was so beautiful. And I was just awestruck at seeing Nobuo--it has been one of my most important dreams ever since I fell in love with his music to see him in the flesh, and I did just that.

I'm getting misty-eyed. I think I need to print these articles and make a scrapbook ^^

Ah! I should have seen this sooner! I'm so envious of you! Glad Aerith's theme got a standing ovation!

Let me know when they have one in North Carolina. I want to go so bad!