Date: 14 Jul 2005
Posted by: Radical Edward
Imagine sitting in a concert halls, waiting for the symphony to start up. Then to the opening strands of "Liberi Fatali" starts playing, you close your eyes and let the music take you away...
However, this article is not about the Dear Friends concert in Fort Worth, but rather the interview that I had with series producer Jason Michael Paul. Prior to the start of the concert I was able to ask him a few questions regarding the series, his work with Square-Enix, and his work with Nobuo Uematsu.
Radical Edward and Jason Michael Paul
Radical Edward: What have been some difficulties been in producing the Dear Friends concert series?
Jason Michael Paul: Convincing Square-Enix in the United States has been difficult due to the fact that they sometimes don't see the value in the music, and the chance for the fans to unite.
RE: How do you feel the conductor's interpretation of the music has been in regards to the music played?
JMP: It's interesting to see the difference styles and interpretations that the different conductors have added to the music. However, we have been fortunate in that we have had Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya perform the music of Nobuo Uematsu in concert before. The only other conductor to have conducted Dear Friends is Arnie Roth. I am confident that the music of Uematsu will be played to his liking.
RE: With the success of the Dear Friends concert series, what impact do you feel this will have with Square-Enix and future North American events?
JMP: Hopefully they will see what an impact these concerts have had on the fan and the consumer for that matter, and we will have more events in the future.
RE: With the success of this year's Dear Friends concerts, do you think Square-Enix will return with another round in the near future?
JMP: It's hard to say right now because of the nature of working with Square-Enix. I am hopeful. One of the great things about these concerts is that it hasn't just been reaching traditional FINAL FANTASY fans, but through this concert series we have been given the opportunity to introduce people of all ages to an entirely new genre. The music of FINAL FANTASY and Nobuo Uematsu’s can be enjoyed by all not just video game fans. We are developing a new appreciation for the video game music.
RE: What has your opinion been of the varied crowds that have turned out?
JMP: Awesome, it's been interesting seeing all types of fans from all walks of life. The fans are great, some of the best you could ask for.
RE: What do you feel has been the impact of the Dear Friends concert series to the music community at large?
JMP: It's making its way, and expanding the genre of video game music. The series is showing that Nobuo’s music can in fact appeal to everyone.
RE: What impact do you feel the Dear Friends series has had on the recognition of video game music?
JMP: It has brought the music to a new group of people outside of just the fandom. The season concert ticket holders are showing up for the Dear Friends concerts not knowing what to expect, are being blown away by the beauty of the music and the presentation.
RE: What has working with Nobuo Uematsu been like?
JMP: Awesome, he is a very dynamic individual that is quite passionate about his music.
RE: Finely, what steps can be taken by the fan community to encourage future tours by Square-Enix?
J
MP: Let them know what it is that fans want, write to them and let them know that people want to continue to hear music from FINAL FANTASY.
There you have it; one of the biggest points from the interview is that we the fans need to let Square-Enix know that we want to hear the music from the game, and to encourage them to allow future tours.
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