Uh? Why is everyone singing?

In this thread we discuss the awesomeness that is the opera scene in FF3/6 (which means spoilers of said scene, so dont read it anymore unless you dont care etc).

As a kid, I often restarted my ff3/6 game when i got to certain parts that i loved; the opera scene was one of these. i liked it so much that i memorized the lyrics and often performed it in the comfort of my living room! i almost performed it in hs for the drama festival thing.

its just so awesome. i love the music, the cheesy lyrics, the thickening plot with ultros, the comedy, everything. one of the best parts to any video game ever.

i played through it the other day for the first time in about 5 years and i got so stoked i had to drop everything and make an avatar and sig to show my love for such a great scene.

I remember trying to sing that part….. but failed miserably.

Indeed, the Opera scene is perhaps one of the greatest moments in the entire series.

And it’s even better completely orchestrated. I know of at least three different orchestrated versions of FFVI’s opera (besides the OST version). The first, known as The Dream Oath, was featured on volume 4 of the very rare Japanese Orchestral Game Concert Collection CDs, and featured FFVI’s entire opera (consisting of Overture, Aria di Mezzo Caraterre (Celes’ theme), Wedding Waltz/The Duel, and finally The Grand Finale? (Ultros’ battle theme). It also includes a reprise of the Aria as an encore at the end.

This version is extremely rare to find on CD though, although it is easy enough to track down in mp3 format online.

The second version is just the Aira, featured on the Japanese FFVI The Grand Finale CD, although it was also available in the US on the Tokyopop CD release FF N Generation a couple of years back. This version is actually preferable to the complete Dream Oath previously mentioned, as it’s lyrics are sung in Italian, not Japanese as in the case of the Orchestral Game Concert version.

The Grand Finale version of the Aria was also partially featured on the PSX re-release of FFVI, as the backing music for the bonus FMV scene ‘Pilot’, unlocked by finishing the game.

There is a also a third arranged version of the opera, known simply as Maria and Draco which was included in the More Friends FF Concert series that is currently touring the US, but a CD is not yet available of it, although it is planned for release, according to Square Enix. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

If you love FF music, and the opera scene, I strongly recconmend you track down one of these arrangements, as you will not be disappointed.

Thanks Enkidoh, will do.