Final Symphony II to showcase all-new FF5, 8, 9 and 13 music arrangements

A sequel to the hit concert series and album release Final Symphony has been announced - and it's already confirmed that it'll tackle four much-loved Final Fantasy soundtracks when it arrives later this year.

Nobuo Uematsu's Final Fantasy V, VIII and IX scores will all receive the full Final Symphony treatment, which includes complex and sweeping arrangements of themes from the game in a fashion that's more musically rich and clasically styled than most other FF and video game music concerts. 

In addition, excerpts of the score from Final Fantasy XIII will also be performed, with the special Final Symphony arrangements contributed by composer Masashi Hamauzu himself.

The new concert series will debut at London's Babrican venue on the 12th September, and FF maestro Uematsu will be in attendance. He'll also give a special talk on his composition techniques and career, taking on fan questions and answers beforehand. Tickets for that concert will run between £35 and £65, while tickets for the Uematsu Q&A session will cost £10. They go on sale tomorrow, the 20th, at 10am UK time. Performing will be the London Symphony Orchestra.

"It’s wonderful that we’re able to return to the Barbican with such an exciting new programme of music,” said Final Symphony II producer, Thomas Böcker. “Performing the original Final Symphony with the LSO back in 2013 was a musical dream come true, and recording the album at Abbey Road Studios was the icing on the cake. The arrangers, Roger Wanamo and Jonne Valtonen – plus Masashi Hamauzu – have been working very hard on something extremely special and we think it’s exactly what fans of Final Fantasy have been waiting for!"

The first Final Symphony concert and album, featuring music from Final Fantasy VI, VII and X, blew us away on launch - and we weren't alone. The release found its way to the top of the iTunes Classical charts in more than ten countries, and also charted in the classical sections of the UK and US official charts. 

A new video feature with Uematsu, filmed during the recording sessions for the previous concert, has been released to celebrate - check that out below.