Piano Live performance is a magical begin to a 12 months of huge gaming concert events in Canada

Sq. Enix’s Nier sequence has among the greatest music in all of gaming.

Composed by Keiichi Okabe, Keigo Hoashi and co., the sci-fi action-RPG’s scores are a masterful mixture of haunting vocals, melancholy and pulse-pounding depth. In 2024, I used to be lucky to journey to Boston with my good good friend (and occasional MobileSyrup contributor) Andrew Mohan to attend the Nier orchestra, and it was actually the most effective exhibits I’ve ever seen.

Over the previous weekend, I acquired to have an identical emotional expertise with a dwell efficiency of Nier music, however in a very completely different manner. Enter Nier: Piano Live performance – Journeys 12025, a brand new present from Sq. Enix, Overlook Occasions and Toronto’s personal Kashamara Productions that’s at the moment touring Canada following stops in Europe and the UK. What made this newest present at Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre stand out is that not like the grand orchestra, which additionally included performances by authentic Nier singers Emi Evans and J’Nique Nicole, the Nier: Piano Live performance options only one individual: pianist and composer Benyamin Nuss. What’s extra, there isn’t a HD display screen that includes imagery from the video games such as you’d discover at many different gaming concert events; it’s simply Nuss and the piano.

Actually, it makes for a uniquely intimate expertise, permitting you to focus solely on the evocativeness of the music. For me, it was a reminder of a few of my favorite moments from my first playthrough of Nier Automata, like exploring the eerily dilapidated metropolis (throughout the first month of COVID, no much less) to the somber tune of “Metropolis Ruins – Ray of Mild,” or listening to Nicole’s unbelievably highly effective ballad, “Weight of the World,” throughout the finale. Even others I met on the present who haven’t performed Nier stated they have been moved by the expertise. All of the whereas, Nuss — who has toured the world for varied performances, together with a number of for different Sq. Enix titles like Ultimate Fantasy — deftly navigates the complicated compositions from Nier Automata, Nier Replicant and Nier Reincarnation. 

Altogether, the two-hour present was a beautiful expertise, and I’m so glad I attended. The one draw back was we have been advised the merch acquired caught in customs, so it by no means reached the venue in time for the live performance. (A little bit of a disgrace since I’d have favored to choose up a memento, however alas.)

Should you’re inquisitive about attending the Nier Piano Live performance however missed the Toronto present, there are just a few different Canadian stops. Notably, whereas the Ottawa live performance went off with out a hitch, the January 9 Montreal present was really postponed just a few days because of a difficulty with the venue.

Listed below are the opposite Canadian stops this week:

However there’s extra for Sq. Enix followers

It’s nice sufficient getting one thing as magical because the Nier live performance so early into the brand new 12 months. However it will get higher — it’s simply considered one of a number of thrilling online game exhibits over the following a number of months. We don’t have to attend lengthy for the following one, both, and it’s from one other beloved Sq. Enix sequence, no much less.

On Friday, January 29 and Saturday, January 30, Distant Worlds: Music from Ultimate Fantasy will make its grand return to Toronto’s Meridian Corridor. (A one-day Montreal efficiency may even happen on Might 17.) This present, particularly, focuses on music from Ultimate Fantasy XIV and XVI, each composed by the legendary Masayoshi Soken, who will really be in attendance alongside one of many distinguished singers from each video games, Amanda Achen. (She may even carry out in Montreal.) Songs from varied different Ultimate Fantasy video games may even be performed. Provided that FF, like Nier, has among the biggest music in all of gaming, this undoubtedly isn’t one to overlook.

On high of that, a sister present to Distant Worlds, A New World, will come to the next Canadian cities:

And final however not least, there’s Ultimate Symphony, which reimagines Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu’s music from Ultimate Fantasy VI, VII and X. The present is coming to Winnipeg on March 22 and Edmonton on June 5 and 6. For what it’s value, whereas I’ve completely adored Distant Worlds and A New World exhibits prior to now, I’ve by no means really made it to a Ultimate Symphony. However it appears cool!

And extra nonetheless for followers of different video games

Outdoors of the Sq. Enix concert events, there’s another neat online game music exhibits coming to Canada this 12 months.

First, there’s Video Video games in Live performance with Eímear Noone, which involves Calgary on March 28. This really options music from Ultimate Fantasy and fellow Sq. Enix sequence Kingdom Hearts, in addition to the likes of The Legend of Zelda, Halo, Mario and Fortnite.

That very same week, followers of Hideo Kojima’s Loss of life Stranding sequence can take a look at Strands of Concord in Montreal (March 26) and Toronto (March 28). The live performance options atmospheric music from Loss of life Stranding and Loss of life Stranding 2: On the Seashore and contains each composer Ludvig Forsell’s rating and vocal songs from the likes of Low Roar and Woodkid. Just like the Nier live performance, it’s being offered in Canada in partnership with Toronto’s Kashamara Productions.

Later, on June 26, these in Toronto can head to Meridian Corridor for Elden Ring Symphonic Journey. This live performance will characteristic dwell performances of music from the 2022 Recreation of the Yr winner accompanied by gameplay on a large HD display screen. Elden Ring is understood for its depth, so what higher strategy to expertise it than with an enormous orchestra and large show?

And at last, there’s Heroes: A Video Recreation Symphony, a brand new present from JMP Leisure (The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses). This live performance will characteristic music from every kind of video games, together with Steel Gear Strong, Halo, Portal, Fallout, Castlevania and Canadian-made sequence Mass Impact and Dragon Age. A Montreal present takes place on Might 20 at 7:30 p.m. on the Place des Arts, whereas a Toronto present shall be held on September 17 at Sobeys Stadium. Silent Hill composer may even be in attendance on the latter live performance and participate in paid meet and greets.

Are you planning on testing any of those concert events? What are your favorite online game soundtracks? Tell us within the feedback.

Header picture credit score: Sq. Enix/Overlook Occasions