MUSIC FROM ® V, VIII, IX AND XIII

London Symphony Orchestra SATURDAY · 12 SEPTEMBER 2015 important thematic element that becomes 7:00 PM subconsciously imprinted on the player BARBICAN CENTRE, throughout this long game.”

The second half of the features MUSIC COMPOSED BY the dramatic battle refrains of Fang’s Theme, Blinded by Light and Serah’s Promise. Hamauzu explains that he chose Fang’s Theme for the audience to have fun with as it contains both LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA heavy action and also lightness. Blinded by ECKEHARD STIER, CONDUCTOR Light and Serah’s Promise are both based ROMAN SIMOVIC, LEADER on previously incomplete by SLAVA SIDORENKO, Hamauzu.

ARRANGEMENT: FINAL FANTASY IX , ROGER WANAMO, For the People of Gaia MASASHI HAMAUZU

VIDEO GAME MUSIC WILL BE BACK IN CONCERT IN 2016 WITH In FINAL FANTASY IX (2000) Brahne, the Queen THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. KEEP INFORMED AT of Alexandria, has begun using powerful WWW.GAMECONCERTS.COM magical weapons to terrorise neighbouring TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE LONDON SYMPHONY kingdoms. Zidane, a skilled thief, teams with ORCHESTRA AND OUR FUTURE CONCERTS VISIT WWW.LSO.CO.UK the young mage Vivi and the beautiful Princess Garnet to save the world from the queen’s evil schemes. But a far more sinister adversary awaits in the nefarious sorcerer Kuja; who is he and why has he been supplying Brahne with her FINAL FANTASY XIII magical weapons? Utopia in the Sky This concerto for piano and orchestra is Roger Wanamo’s third FINAL FANTASY-related piano Jonne Valtonen’s orchestration and partial orchestration. “At first it felt hard. I wanted to arrangement of the FINAL FANTASY XIII (2009) avoid making this too similar to my previous score is based on an original arrangement concertos, as I don‘t like repeating myself. by Masashi Hamauzu. Hamauzu However, the music in FINAL FANTASY IX is very remarks that “there were no orchestral different to that of previous games, so I had versions of FINAL FANTASY XIII tracks that I was plenty of new material to work with.” When he really satisfied with and I wanted to create a began to familiarize himself with the source symphonic arrangement that would be truly material, the inspiration came very quickly: “I ground-breaking. Jonne Valtonen is a highly only got about five minutes into the game, to talented arranger who helped me complete the streets of Alexandria. I listened to the music this version. I think we are able to reach a for a few minutes and then I went to the piano perfected version of the music.” Valtonen adds, to play around with the melody. I realized that “Hamauzu’s jazzy and impressionistic style this Prokofiev-esque theme was just perfect for already gave the music its gentle softness to piano and orchestra – and this was, of course, which I added my own small imprint.” Vivi‘s Theme.”

Hamauzu decided to create an easily While the concerto is in one, single movement, understood drama with the most popular the elements of a traditional four movement songs from the game. The first three songs in concerto are all featured. “After the inspiration this arrangement are Prelude, Vanille’s Theme I had from Vivi’s Theme, it soon became clear to and Nautilus, all of which are centered on the me that the whole arrangement would have a protagonist Vanille and express a truly beautiful strong focus on character motifs.” The opening and deep world. Masashi Hamauzu hopes of the piece focuses on Zidane’s Theme, which that with these orchestral versions people will is very classical in character. The playful Vivi’s pay more attention to the themes: “this is an Theme functions as a scherzo and it is followed by the slow movement that focuses on Princess FINAL FANTASY V Garnet. The final part represents the battle Library of Ancients refrains and the signature tune of Kuja. “I chose to do a darker representation of him. If you listen, he is represented in earlier parts of the Originally released in 1992, FINAL FANTASY V piece as a shadow in the background.” In the tells the story of four travellers – a pirate, an old final encounter,Kuja’s Theme becomes entwined soldier, an adventure hunter, and a young girl – with both the battle themes and fragments of as they embark on a to save the world the heroes’ melodies. from imminent destruction. Their only hope is to recover the four elemental Crystals that FINAL FANTASY VIII can combat an unstoppable, destructive force Mono no aware known as the Void. Jonne Valtonen’s arrangement starts with The story of FINAL FANTASY VIII (1999) follows Musica Machina, a theme first heard to Squall, a member of an elite combat team represent an ancient base used by the heroes. known as SeeD that become engaged in a This place is a source of transportation for the power struggle with menacing adversaries. The crew, featuring steamships and other vehicles key question for Squall and his friends is who that require no wind to operate – the wind to trust. This title includes many intriguing having disappeared from the world following characters such as the free-spirited Rinoa, the the destruction of the first elemental Crystal. sorceress Edea, and Squall’s arch-rival, Seifer. Valtonen expands on the importance of this theme: “I’m using this as the base for the whole One of the major themes in FINAL FANTASY VIII arrangement; the riff from Musica Machina is the conflict between childhood and is repeated at various stages throughout. adulthood; nostalgia for the past and fear of an It is the point from which the music jumps uncertain future. Mono no aware, a Japanese forward to other locations and battles. It term for the awareness of impermanence generates the wind for what is to follow. There and also the title of this arrangement, reflects are fast running scales that are built up in the these dimensions of the game: in effect, a background on various themes. This approach gentle sadness of the passing of things being enables the party to always move onward in my the reality of life. “It felt like there was more arrangement.” melancholy in this game compared to other FINAL FANTASY games I‘ve played. This is a Reina’s Theme is presented with the raising wind feeling I carried in to the arrangement, which behind it as she joins the protagonist Bartz and features lots of slow and contemplative parts,” the other heroes. Together they must travel Roger Wanamo explains. the world to find hidden, legendary weapons before facing X-Death, the villain of the piece, Key to this arrangement are songs that share the for the final confrontation. Seemingly defeated same melody, but are presented in very different at first, the fight with X-Death recommences ways, such as Tell Me with Ami and Eyes on Me as the music of Spreading Grand Wings starts with Waltz for the Moon. Wanamo continues, to generate momentum. The arrangement “This is a brilliant showcase of Uematsu’s skill in canters through the battle themes before finally creating unity within the soundtrack by deriving reaching the decisive conflict that seals the very distinct pieces from the same melodic fate of X-Death. “Things calm down and sorrow material. The piece of music that kept ringing in seeps in as the party reminisce the dead. The my head after playing the game was Tell Me/Ami, atmosphere soon turns to one of jubilation which also features in SeeD’s home base, Balamb though, with the group’s theme rising amid the Garden. A perfect example of how repetition grand and festive joy of a world saved from total strengthens the memory.” The arrangement annihilation.” Musica Machina, now in major key, doesn’t follow the game’s storyline slavishly, but closes the arrangement. the ending follows a similar pattern. “The ending is calm, with the character themes fading away, leaving it open to interpretations: what exactly happens to the protagonists? It is the same as in the game itself.” © Ranald Mackechnie / LSO 2015 / LSO Mackechnie © Ranald

London Symphony Orchestra each year. The many projects that make up LSO Discovery, the Orchestra’s education and community programme, offer people of all The London Symphony Orchestra is London’s ages the opportunity to get involved in music- oldest surviving orchestra and is widely making. Its ongoing projects include LSO On regarded as one of the world’s leading Track, giving young musicians opportunities to orchestras. The LSO performs 120 concerts a perform in stand-out events such as BMW LSO year with an enviable family of artists including Open Air Classics, and LSO Sing – a programme Valery Gergiev, Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson of singing activities designed to draw in singers Thomas, Daniel Harding, Bernard Haitink of all ages and abilities. LSO St Luke’s, the UBS and André Previn, and has long-standing and LSO Music Education Centre, is the home of relationships with some of the leading LSO Discovery; it also hosts chamber and solo musicians in the world – Sir John Eliot Gardiner, recitals, dance, folk music and more. Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mitsuko Uchida and Maria João Pires amongst others. The Orchestra is self- The Orchestra is a world-leader in recording governing and made up of nearly a hundred music for CD, film, television and events. LSO talented players who also perform regularly as Live is the most successful label of its kind soloists or in chamber concerts. and has over a hundred titles, all of which are available globally. The Orchestra has The LSO is proud to be Resident Orchestra at recorded music for hundreds of films including the Barbican and our home has enabled us Philomena, The Monuments Men, four of the to establish a truly loyal audience and fulfil Harry Potter films, Superman and six Star Wars many artistic aspirations. The LSO also enjoys movies, and has recently recorded music for the successful residencies in New York, Paris and video-games series, Final Fantasy. and our regular tour destinations include China, South Korea, plus many major European cities. Last season also saw the Orchestra’s first CONCERTS FROM THE LSO AT THE tour to Australia in 30 years, and an extensive BARBICAN THIS AUTUMN: tour of the United States with Michael Tilson Thomas. The LSO is widely acclaimed American Classics, Fri 6 Nov 7:30pm internationally by audiences and critics alike. Toe-tapping music that fuses the worlds of and classical – from Bernstein and Stravinsky to The LSO is set apart from other international a brand new work from one of the greatest jazz orchestras by the depth of its commitment to minds of the modern era, Wynton Marsalis. music education, reaching over 60,000 people Tickets available from lso.co.uk Symphony Orchestra. Philharmonic Orchestrathe and the Londonas Symphony Orchestra,the Tokyo has conducted international orchestras such appearancesIn regular guest Eckehard Stier Austria, Poland andSwitzerland. to Australia,him , France, Norway, engagementsNumerous have concert taken are highlypraisedthe press by andpublic. Richard Wagner andDmitriShostakovich interpretationsthe works of Richard of Strauss, for himselfasanopera conductor. His many different genres, hemadeaname Orchestra. With hishuge repertoire including the AucklandConductor Philharmonia of Eckehardthe MusicDirector andChief Stieris Eckehard Stier, Conductor OU

© Adrian Malloch Orchestrato nameafew. Symphony Orchestra, andLondon Symphony as ManchesterCamerata, Birmingham Cityof UK. withorchestras Hehasperformed such France,the of Netherlandsandmany parts the Ukraine, in soloist concerto Germany, , Slava Sidorenko hasappeared asrecital and following year) receiving glowing reviews. CD “Live at Wigmore Hall” was releasedthe the JacquesSamuel Piano Competition, of (the the in2009at debut Wigmore Hall, aswinner Foundation Europe of Scholarship. Hemade his the scholarships including Yamaha Music received various prestigious awards and He won numerous pianocompetitions and Slava Sidorenko isoriginallyfrom Ukraine. Slava Sidorenko, Piano O U

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Tokyo

FINAL SYMPHONY TOKYO Blu-ray Audio Concert Recording (2 CDs)

Music from FINAL FANTASY VI, VII and X Music from SQUARE London Symphony Orchestra Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra PROGRAMME

Jonne Valtonen In a Roundabout Way Fanfare

Masashi Hamauzu FINAL FANTASY XIII Utopia in the Sky

(Prelude to FINAL FANTASY XIII | Vanille’s Theme | Nautilus | Blinded by Light etc.)

Nobuo Uematsu FINAL FANTASY IX For the People of Gaia

(Festival of the Hunt | Vivi’s Theme | Mourning the Sky | Silver Dragon etc.)

INTERVAL (20 MIN.)

Nobuo Uematsu FINAL FANTASY VIII Mono no aware

(The Oath | Don‘t be Afraid | The Landing | Waltz for the Moon etc.)

Nobuo Uematsu FINAL FANTASY V Library of Ancients

(Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY V | Reina’s Theme |

Spreading Grand Wings | The Evil Lord X-Death etc.)

Final Symphony & Final Symphony II C & P 2013-2015 Merregnon Studios. Licensed by . FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark or trademark of Square Enix Group Co., Ltd.