BLOG -- Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- @ Sony Centre (July 13, 2019)

This was my first time attending a Kingdom Hearts-themed concert. I mainly wanted to check it out because it was a video game-themed concert. It was great!

I had actually wanted to take a pic of the screen, but with the 
cosplayer posing there... I thought I'd include him, too!

Me and Kingdom Hearts

For the longest time, I had a strong interest in playing through the Kingdom Hearts series, but never really having the time. I bought the 1st and 2nd game on PS2, then Chain of Memories on PS2. After some years, I managed to play through the 1st game.

When I turned on Kingdom Hearts I for the first time, the thing that caught my attention most was the title screen music. It was very beautiful, but in an unearthly, serene, and yet hauntingly sad and lonely way. It tickled my soul to no end. Sometimes I'd stay on the title screen just so I could hear that beautiful music for just a little longer.

"Dearly Beloved", the title screen music.

I'm hoping this is the PS2 version that I heard all those years ago.

There have been so many iterations since!

Overall, Kingdom Hearts I was a pretty good game, but I didn't enjoy some of the camera angle movements, and I personally took issue with how it ended. I guess... to avoid spoiling it for somebody who might not have yet played through Kingdom Hearts I, I'll mention this issue in the "Spoilers" section (hahaha. I never thought any blog about an orchestra would ever have a "Spoilers" section).

Being so turned off on the ending in Kingdom Hearts I, I put off playing any of the other Kingdom Hearts games, prioritizing instead on playing other video games in my collection or doing other things. I still continued to buy the games, though, intending to play them eventually.

Then fast-forward to late January this year, when I hear about the upcoming Kingdom Hearts orchestra. Wanting to get more familiar with Kingdom Hearts music before the orchestra happened, I decided to try playing the games. I started playing Kingdom Hearts Final Remix to refresh myself on the 1st game's plot and music, and got as far as Hollow Bastion. Then Life got busy and I didn't get any farther, hahaha...

So that's my sad, pitiful history with the Kingdom Hearts series. I only played through the first game (PS2 version), and most of Final Mix (the upgraded first game), even though I have Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix, and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 on the PS4. I do intend to play through the rest someday. Maybe doing so will help lift the sour feeling I had from the first game's ending.

The Little Details

Date of Concert: Saturday July 13, 2019
Venue: Sony Centre (Toronto, Ontario)
Time: 8:00 PM
Ticket Price Total: $123.34
Seating: Mezzanine Aisle 2, Row CC, Seat 34
Went with: Sister and a friend

5:30-ish PM -- @ Sony Centre

My sister and I got to the Sony Centre around 5:30 PM. There was already a small line so we lined up. The most surprising thing was that doors opened at 6 PM! That was the earliest time doors have ever opened for an 8 PM concert!

Like what I would always do at video game-themed concerts, I went straight for the merchandise table. There was already a line forming, but I was able to jump to the front because I was paying with cash. Lucky!

Unfortunately, many of the items were pricey. $45 for a T-shirt? $50... for a pouch that was just a little larger than a CD?? Also, not all of the items were present. Some items had to be ordered from an online shop and the online shop would only be available for the night of the concert. I gritted my teeth and got a couple items, just to commemorate my attending this concert. Below is what the merchandise table / online one-day shop was selling:

Official Tour Programme -- $50
T-shirt (Current Tour) -- $45
T-shirt (Last Tour) -- $45
CD (Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres-) -- $50 
Poster -- $25
Pouch -- $50
Tote Bag (Online order ONLY) -- $35
Key Chain (Online order ONLY) -- $25
Orchestra Conductor Keyblade set (Online order ONLY) -- $99


Below is what I bought:

-Official Tour Programme -- $50
-CD (Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres-) -- $50
-Three fanart stickers -- Given as a gift! (More details on this below)

So here's the story with the three fanart stickers...

With lots of time left till 8 PM, my sister and I sat in a lounge area and chatted about random things. Then an attendee came up to us and said (to the best of my recollection):

Attendee: Are you here for the concert?

Me (nodding and smile): Yes.

Attendee: Would you be interested in receiving some stickers?

I looked at her inquisitively. Me: Umm... are you giving away some stickers?

Attendee (in a happy tone. I know I am butchering her words very badly): Yes. Because we're at this concert, I thought I'd give away some stickers just in the spirit of giving.

A moment of thought. Me (smiling): Then yes, I'd like some stickers.

Then the attendee reached in her bag and handed me three stickers. I looked at them quietly and smiled. They were so cute! After she handed the stickers to my sister...

Me: Did you make them?

Attendee: Yes.

Me: They are so nice!

Attendee: Thank you!

Then she went off to other attendees. I really wanted to ask if she had a business card, but I felt that would kinda ruin her intentions of the stickers being a gift. If anybody happens to recognize the stickers and know who the artist could be, please let me know! (please comment or send me a message through the Contact Form). I'm going to keep my eyes peeled at my next conventions (in case she would have a table in Artist Alley)!

We got seated around 7:30 PM (around the time we met up with my friend). I told my friend that out of all the Kingdom Hearts music I knew (which was very limited), I really wanted to hear the title screen music, the music from Halloween Town, and the music from Hollow Bastion.

Where we were sitting. A clear view of the orchestra! :3

Programme

I guess it was a good thing I bought the Official Tour Programme, or I would not be able to provide the setlist here. Kingdom Hearts was shortened to KH for this section.

KH III: Dearly Beloved
KH I: Music medley
Re: Chain of Memories: Music medley
KH II: Music medley
358/2 Days: Music medley
Coded: Pretty Pretty Abilities
Birth by Sleep: Music medley
Dream Drop Distance: Music medley
Another Time: Music medley
KH Series: Diabolic Bash

-- INTERMISSION --

KH III: Face My Fears -Kingdom Orchestra Instrumental Version-
KH III (Hercules + Toy Story Worlds): Symphonic Suite: The World of Tres I
KH III (Tangled + Monsters Inc. Worlds): Symphonic Suite: The World of Tres II
KH III (Frozen World): Symphonic Suite: The World of Tres III
KH III (Pirates of the Caribbean World): Symphonic Suite: The World of Tres IV
KH III (Big Hero 6 World): Symphonic Suite: The World of Tres V
Kingdom Hearts series: Overture to the Decisive Battle
KH III: Simple and Clean -Kingdom Tres Orchestra Instrumental Version-
KH series: Rhapsody in Tres for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra

Encore
KH III: Don't Think Twice -Kingdom Orchestra Instrumental Version-

8:00 PM-ish -- First Half

The first half had some nice pieces, and some pieces I didn't really connect with (which I knew would happen). The first piece was Dearly Beloved (the title screen music), but it was an arrangement of the Kingdom Hearts III version, which sounded more uplifting and hopeful than what I was used to. Where were the unearthly, lonely piano touches that tugged at and tickled my soul?

Just like with other video game-themed concerts I've attended, the orchestra was on the stage while a big screen was above to show accompanying game footage to each piece. Even though I hadn't played many of the games, I watched the game footage, thinking that it could help connect me with some of the pieces. I made a mental note to make myself erase everything I saw weeks later, because I'm sure I saw some serious spoilers for some of the games (I don't like spoilers!).

I especially enjoyed the music medley for Kingdom Hearts II. It was a nice mix of light and fast-paced tunes. Also, the music from Hollow Bastion was included in the medley, and it sounded great.

I also really enjoyed Diabolic Bash. Unfortunately, by that time, my mind started to get tired of trying to process and connect all the unfamiliar game footage to the music. Close to the end, I decided to observe the orchestra, and was wowed. The orchestra was playing so intensely and with so much energy! The conductor was also waving her arms and moving around with lots of conviction.

I should have been observing the orchestra much earlier!!! XD

9:00 PM -- Intermission

Nothing happened during intermission. I stayed in my seat and spoke to my friend about the concert. Unlike me, my friend had played all the Kingdom Hearts games so the concert was a wonderful, nostalgic trip.

9:15-ish PM -- Second Half

The second half focused more on Kingdom Hearts III, and featured the Disney side of the game (i.e. the worlds). The game footage was much easier to follow, as it showed the story of each accompanying world. Sadly, that meant I got super-spoiled for, well, everything in Kingdom Hearts III! So much for trying to stay in the dark for that game, hahaha...

Pieces I especially liked were the suites from Toy Story, Frozen, and Big Hero 6 worlds. For one part of the Toy Story suite, many of the orchestra members started snapping their fingers. It was so unexpected and amusing! Some audience members also joined in. I wanted to join in, too, but wasn't sure if it'd disturb any attendees around me. I smiled, though. :)

While I watched the game footage for the Pirates of the Caribbean world, I was wondering if I got spoiled for the movie series, hahaha... (I had only watched the first two Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

The Overture to the Decisive Battle was a little too long, but it got nice and exciting by the end.

Rhapsody in Tres was kinda neat. It was performed while credits rolled.

When the last piece ended, the audience gave a standing ovation, myself included. We stayed clapping and cheering as the conductor walked off the stage. A minute later, the clapping died down and we sat back down.

Then the conductor popped her head out and pointed at herself, at which point the audience started clapping and cheering again. I interpreted her gesture as "You do want me to perform one more piece, right?". I wonder if others interpreted it the same way.

10:20-ish PM -- Encore

While Don't Think Twice didn't hit too many chords with me, I really enjoyed the game footage. I thought it was really sweet. The show ended around 10:30 PM.

Overall Experience

In the end, despite my LACK of familiarity with the Kingdom Hearts games and music, I really enjoyed the concert. If it ever comes back, I hope I'll be more caught up with the series so I could really appreciate the music. But please -- please play the original version of Dearly Beloved!! Hahahaha.

After the concert, the merchandise table was surprisingly NOT packed. It usually would be crazy packed after a video game-themed concert ended. I wonder if that was because many people needed to get home quickly to make some online orders before the day was over? Or maybe it was because the doors opened so early that everybody was able to make all the purchases they wanted before the show?

The merchandise table BEFORE the concert.
Not crazy crowded, but still a crowd.

And now...

The merchandise table AFTER the concert.
Some of the items look like they were sold out, particularly the programme and the CD.

Now... some cosplay! There were a lot of cosplays at the concert. If I recognized more of the characters I probably would have gotten more pictures.

I don't know who this character is.
I just like the vest and tie.

I don't know which character this is... but the cosplay is great, in my opinion.

If you have played and enjoyed the Kingdom Hearts games (and enjoyed its music), I would highly recommend Kingdom Hearts Orchestra to you. If you had played it through the years, it would likely be a very nostalgic experience.


Thank you so much for reading!
If you have any comments, feel free. :)

So I'll do the scrolly thing and the "Spoilers" section will appear after that. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.

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SPOILERS

I personally took issue with how Kingdom Hearts I ended.

So my only issue was at the very end. Please note that this is based on when I beat the game years and years and YEARS ago, so I might be remembering things incorrectly. If I say something wrong, please correct me. So...

Mickey was thrown off to another planet. The current planet Sora and Kairi were on was breaking apart. Just before Kairi reached Sora, a crack formed between them. Then they stood there looking at each other while the crack got wider, and they got separated -- again. All at once, I thought 'Why didn't Kairi just jump over the crack and join Sora?! They were a few steps away from each other!'. And then I thought, 'They kept Kairi and Sora separated just so there could be a sequel...' :/

Maybe I missed something while playing it years and years and YEARS ago. Maybe there is a rule or law that stipulates that once a crack is formed on a planet, it'd be impossible to jump over it. If there was, I missed it and was just left with a sour feeling.

If you read my spoiler, thank for reading it! Now to finish with more scrolly things. 

Take care and until next time! :)

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