Some of you may have heard about the recent concert featuring the music of Final Fantasy, performed live in Tokyo. For those of us, unable to attend due to a little barrier called the Pacific Ocean, Square has released Final Fantasy Concert 2002.02.20. The CD contains all the tracks performed at the concert. The CDs is also in CD-Extra format so it displays extras when played on a PC, including interviews and other video. As for the songs themselves, they originally composed by Nobou Uematsu, have been arranged and are conducted by Shiro Hamaguchi.

CD 1 1 - Turning: This one minute track is simply the orchestra getting warmed up for the performance. Nothing much to speak of.

2 - Liberi Fatali: From Final Fantasy VIII, this high energy track starts the disc off quickly and energetically. One of the main themes of FFVIII, the track features Latin singing (in the vein of Final Fantasy VII's "One Winged Angel").

3- Theme of Love: Featured in Final Fantasy IV, the Theme of Love has never sounded better. Indeed, it provides a slow, contemplative mood, compared to Liberi Fatali. Many of the earlier Final Fantasy games weren't orchestrated as such; many of the albums, including IV's, had some gimmicks - IV's was a Celtic theme. Not to say, the Celtic Moon CD was bad, but the orchestral version of Theme of Love on this particular CD is incredible. Hamaguchi did an amazing job adding new harmony to Uematsu's music. For this track and, and the other tracks on the CD, Hamaguchi's arranging keeps the tracks from sounding one dimensional or boring. He brings the song to a stunning and beautiful climax around the third minute, before fading down to a whisper of an ending.

4- MC: The "MC" hosts of the concert series explaining on the music of Final Fantasy and about the songs themselves. For those of us who don't speak Japanese very well, there's little of interest n these particular tracks. If the CD ever gets released, I wonder if the MC tracks will be changed or redone in English?

5 - Final Fantasy I - III Medley: For old school Final Fantasy fans, this track will be of keen interest, as it combines many of the old themes of Final Fantasy, including the openings, "Mayatoa's Cave," and the "Chocobo Theme." The older Final Fantasy games haven't received treatment like this since "Eternal Legend of the Wing" and to hear the familiar themes done so well is truly a stirring thing.

6 - MC2: Another MC track, in Japanese!

7 - Aeris' Theme: One of the most beautiful themes from Final Fantasy VII, this particular rendition of "Aeris' Theme" sounds nearly the same as the orchestra version of the song put on the Final Fantasy VII orchestra CD, except for a more climatic ending. This is a problem shared by many of the tracks from later Final Fantasy games - especially VII through X; they sound similar to previously recorded orchestrated versions.

8 - Don't Be Afraid!: This track is as fast and powerful as one would expect from a battle theme. This song is remarkably similar to its Final Fantasy VIII counterpart, though the in-game song was done without instruments. The only major difference is a whirring sound during the song's refrain.

9 - Tina's Theme: Also known as the Overworld theme of Final Fantasy VI, among many diehard Final Fantasy fans, this track is one of the best of all of the games. It is, even on this excellent CD, one of the best songs. Sincere and soulful, Hamaguchi's tinkering, for the most part, does not detract from the power of this song. Many of his additions add positively to the texture of the song. The trumpets towards the end of the song blare with a wonderful radiance and strength.

10 - MC3: Yet another spoken track.

11 - Dear Friends: One of the major themes of Final Fantasy V, "Dear Friends" suffers the same as the Theme of Love from Final Fantasy IV. Though many good versions have been made (including the track on electronic album of the same name and on the Final Fantasy vocal CD, Love Will Grow) this is, to my knowledge, the only full orchestra version. Quiet and melodious, the song has a subtle and beautiful charm, though the choice of a stringed instrument for the song seems an odd one.

12 - Vama'alla Flamenco: The song for Final Fantasy IX's "Treno" starts with a flourish and slowly becomes a different track completely. This song is one of the most changed from its original version, as the song explores all sorts of Spanish styles, with the guitar from Dear Friends. However, as one dimensional as the song is (it was the theme for the city Treno) Hamaguchi's changes aren't terrible. From its lively beginning, and it's mellower middle, the song ends with a bang.