BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY BRASS de BRAVO 2024: A Night with Nobuo Uematsu and the Siena Wind Orchestra
On Monday, August 12, 2024, I attended the grand finale of the BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY 2024 tour at Shibuya’s Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
The concert was produced by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, the composer behind the iconic music of the Final Fantasy series. Hirofumi Kurita, a renowned conductor known for his dynamic performances, led the Siena Wind Orchestra, one of Japan’s premier wind ensembles. The charismatic Mami Yamashita, a popular voice actress and presenter, kept the energy high as the MC. Special guests included Uematsu’s band, conTIKI, adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening.
It’s been five years since the last BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY wind orchestra concert in 2019, and since I’d never attended a BRA★BRA before, I eagerly entered the ticket raffle as soon as they announced Tokyo’s final tour date. Fortune smiled upon me—I won a ticket!
What is BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY BRASS de BRAVO?
BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY BRASS de BRAVO is a celebrated orchestral concert series dedicated to bringing the music of the Final Fantasy video game franchise to life.
Created by Nobuo Uematsu himself, in collaboration with the Siena Wind Orchestra, the concert series reimagines beloved Final Fantasy scores with powerful brass and wind arrangements.
Since its inception, the tour has enchanted fans with nostalgic renditions of themes like “Eyes on Me,” “One-Winged Angel,” and battle medleys spanning multiple games.
What sets these concerts apart is the interactive fan experience. Concertgoers are often invited to participate—some are chosen as “Bravo Team” leaders to cheer between pieces, and others even join the encore performance with their own instruments.
The Concert Experience
As I mentioned, on Monday, August 12, I made my way to Shibuya Bunkamura for BRA★BRA FINAL FANTASY.
This was my first visit to Bunkamura Orchard Hall. The venue was elegant and sophisticated, with various Final Fantasy songs playing softly in the lobby, setting the mood perfectly.
The pre-concert atmosphere was lively; both outside and inside the venue was bustling with Final Fantasy fans—the sense of community was palpable. Being surrounded by fellow fans made me feel at home. I love Final Fantasy events—there’s a unique warmth and excitement that comes with them.
I hadn’t planned on buying any merch, but I spotted someone browsing the event booklet, and the absolutely gorgeous pixel art drew me in.
I ended up getting the booklet, which was packed with pictures and details. With the purchase, I also received a pair of plastic maracas as a bonus, which we would use later during the concert.
I was thrilled to discover that my seat was pretty close to the stage! Since seats were assigned randomly, I felt incredibly lucky and blessed.
Then, as the lights dimmed, I felt goosebumps ripple across my skin.
Nobuo Uematsu appeared on stage. Seeing him in person for the first time was surreal—this is the man whose music has been the soundtrack to so many of my memories.
He warmly welcomed everyone, then made his way through the audience, handing out cool can badges to those who shouted “BRAVO!” the loudest. I wanted one so badly, but I was too shy to shout! 😅
When the orchestra began to play, more goosebumps. The music transported me back to the worlds of Final Fantasy, with vivid game imagery and emotions flooding back.
Between pieces, Nobuo Uematsu and Mami Yamashita engaged in lively commentary. Their banter was both entertaining and insightful, offering glimpses into the stories behind each piece.
When Eyes on Me started playing, I felt tears in my eyes. This song holds a special place in my heart—it reminds me of moments of love and loss from Final Fantasy VIII, and hearing it live was overwhelming.
Battle on the Big Bridge (FFV’s Gilgamesh theme) was an absolute riot. The energy was infectious, and I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
One of the highlights was the audience participation piece. Spectators who had brought their recorders joined in on the Final Fantasy Main Theme. The first part featured the orchestra alone, and in the second half, both Nobuo Uematsu and Mami Yamashita played, along with the audience members. It was a 360-degree experience that created a profound sense of unity. I would have loved to play along with Nobuo Uematsu, but I hadn’t known this was planned! Next time, I’ll be prepared.
When Vamo’ alla Flamenco from Final Fantasy IX began, the vivid scenes of Zidane and company flooded my mind. The power of music to jog memories from so long ago is incredible. One of the performers was clapping with a rose in his mouth—absolutely great!
Hearing Blue Fields, the world map theme from Final Fantasy VIII, gave me goosebumps all over again.
Then came Suteki Da Ne. Nobuo Uematsu mentioned it was the first time they were performing this song with vocals for BRA★BRA. The emotional impact was immense. The vocalist, 暁-Xiao-, delivered an outstanding performance. She even did Yuna’s iconic gesture at the end, and the crowd erupted in applause. A beautiful rendition.
To Zanarkand followed, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. This piece has always touched my soul with its melancholic beauty.
And, of course, One-Winged Angel. While it tends to be overused in all things Final Fantasy, hearing it live was still incredibly impactful. The Siena Wind Orchestra’s rendition perfectly captured the epic scale of Sephiroth’s presence.
The performance concluded amid sustained applause and cheers of “Bravo!” The curtain closed, but the audience wasn’t ready to leave. Chants of “Encore!” filled the hall, the hype reaching new heights.
The encore was a joyous celebration. The band and audience joined together on stage for a spirited rendition of Mambo de Chocobo, with people playing instruments they’d brought from home. The atmosphere was festive and slightly chaotic—in the best way possible.
Kazuko Shibuya, the original character pixel artist for early Final Fantasy games, also joined on stage, playing the melodica.
Members of conTIKI came forward to greet the audience. 暁-Xiao- waved enthusiastically, and Mami Yamashita and Kazuko Shibuya cheered from the stage as we all shared in the joy of the moment.
And with that, the night came to a close.
Final Impressions
What a wonderful experience!
Solid 10/10 for me. 🤩
I had a big smile on my face the entire time. The music, the atmosphere, the shared emotions—they all combine to create something truly special.
Every song was a masterpiece, and I found myself covered in goosebumps repeatedly—even shedding tears at times. 😭
The Siena Wind Orchestra was phenomenal, delivering warm and rich sounds that enveloped the audience.
The songs with vocals were particularly moving. 暁-Xiao-’s high notes were breathtaking, and her performance added depth to already profound pieces.
Conductor Hirofumi Kurita was as entertaining as ever, engaging the audience with his energetic style.
Seeing Nobuo Uematsu in person was a dream come true; his presence is both charming and invigorating.
BRA★BRA incorporates so many fun elements where the audience can shout “Bravo!” or even join in with instruments, fostering a sense of unity that made the experience even more enjoyable 🥰
This concert was a powerful reminder of live music’s impact and the importance of shared experiences.
It made me want to pick up Theatrhythm Final Fantasy again!
I can’t help but feel a bit of regret for never having the patience or discipline to learn an instrument properly. Watching everyone play together on stage was inspiring. Maybe it’s never too late to start?
Looking forward to the next BRA★BRA concert!
Setlist (August 12, 2024 - Tokyo Evening Performance)
First Half
FF Battle Medley 2 (FFバトル2メドレー)
Eyes on Me
Battle on the Big Bridge (ビッグブリッヂの死闘)
Final Fantasy Main Theme (FINAL FANTASYメインテーマ)
Hunter’s Chance (ハンターチャンス)
Seymour Battle (シーモアバトル)
Rufus’s Welcoming Ceremony (ルーファウス歓迎式典)
The Man with the Machine Gun
Second Half
Fragments of Memories
Vamo’ alla Flamenco
Ronfaure
Kiss Me Good-Bye
Blue Fields
Kids Run Through the City (街角の子供達)
Suteki da ne (素敵だね)
To Zanarkand (ザナルカンドにて)
One-Winged Angel (片翼の天使)
Encore
No Promises to Keep
Mambo de Chocobo (マンボdeチョコボ)