Link Through the Ages
Overall, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was thoroughly memorable—even if I wasn't able to purchase any memorabilia (the mob was just too large). The audience's energy was uniquely Nintendo-charged, and the conductor and many of the performers were clearly interested in the music.
It's hard to complain. The omission of music from Zelda 2 or the Game Boy entries in favor of Nintendo DS music was disappointing, but not unexpected. The performance wasn't top-tier for an Los Angeles event—the horn section blurted a few notes and sections speed up ahead of their associates once or twice—but it was still far, far better than the fun-but-sloppy 2003 Mario & Zelda Big Band Live concert from Japan. And unlike some other video game productions touring the globe, there were no snarky jokes or bad acting—just good music, attentive listeners, and clever visuals.
Nintendo taped the entire show, so hopefully Nintendo fans not as fortunate as I will have an opportunity to experience this concert on video sometime in the future. There are no known plans for a release at this time, but keep an eye out for a Club Nintendo or pre-order bonus CD or DVD sometime in the future. You will not want to miss this.
