Merregnon Fairy Tales

Today, Merregnon: Heart of Ice was featured on TV Asahi’s long-running Untitled Concert, reaching millions of viewers in Japan. It’s wonderful to see Nobuo Uematsu’s compositions connect with new audiences, including those discovering his work or orchestral music for the first time.

Merregnon: Heart of Ice will be performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra next year! Nobuo Uematsu himself will host the concert, and I have a feeling there might be a surprise or two in store... Ticket lottery applications open today! www.koacreative.co.jp/merregnonhoi/

"It was a real honour to have my music for Merregnon: Heart of Ice recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s finest orchestras, at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. I’m very grateful to everyone involved!" (Nobuo Uematsu)

One week from today, TV Asahi’s Untitled Concert will air in Japan, featuring Merregnon: Heart of Ice. The programme will include excerpts performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Rie Tozuka, with Nobuo Uematsu discussing his approach to composing the music. www.tv-asahi.co.jp/daimei/next/

"The London Symphony Orchestra brought out so much in the music, and I couldn't be happier with how the recording turned out!" (Nobuo Uematsu) I couldn't agree more! I'm delighted that Merregnon: Heart of Ice has been submitted for GRAMMY consideration in the Best Orchestral Performance category.

Excerpts from Merregnon: Heart of Ice will be featured on TV Asahi's Untitled Concert in Japan on October 24, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Japanese narrator Rie Tozuka and composer Nobuo Uematsu also appearing. Looking forward to the broadcast! www.tv-asahi.co.jp/daimei/next/

So grateful that the October 24 episode of TV Asahi’s Untitled Concert, Japan’s classical music program, will be entirely dedicated to Merregnon: Heart of Ice! Guest of honor Nobuo Uematsu talks about the project, with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra performing excerpts from the work.

Somehow, it’s already been 23 years to the day since the first orchestral video game concert outside Japan, in Leipzig... Here with Nobuo Uematsu and conductor Andy Brick shortly after the performance.

Friends in Japan: applications are still open to attend a recording of Untitled Concert featuring Nobuo Uematsu. The deadline is today at 11:59 pm JST, so only a few hours remain! www.tv-asahi.co.jp/daimei/viewi...

Nobuo Uematsu and Rie Tozuka discuss Merregnon: Heart of Ice in the latest issue of Japan’s renowned classical music magazine Ongaku no Tomo. The author notes: “For children who experience the work at an early age, its allegorical and mythic qualities may help make it a lasting formative memory.”

"Merregnon is a dreamlike opus, a study in melodic simplicity and luscious harmony, designed to speak to the mind’s ear as well as its eye."

I remember clearly how meaningful it felt when Final Symphony reached number 5 in the Official Classical Charts back then. Seeing Merregnon: Heart of Ice now reach number 4 means a great deal to me. 🙏

Oh, hello (Philharmonie de) Paris.

“It’s simply fantastic.” Nobuo Uematsu on the finished recording of Merregnon: Heart of Ice, uDiscoverMusic Japan

Who better to share the news than Nobuo Uematsu himself? Merregnon: Heart of Ice is now available worldwide!

So grateful for the kind support of Nobuo Uematsu and Rie Tozuka for Merregnon: Heart of Ice. ❤️

A truly beautifully filmed and edited Making Of by @davidtarrodi.bsky.social, as authentic as one could possibly hope for. Don’t miss the YouTube Premiere on 14 May!

Now that the first clip is out, I can finally say what a remarkable experience it was to travel to Tokyo a few months ago with the ever excellent @davidtarrodi.bsky.social to interview master Nobuo Uematsu about Merregnon: Heart of Ice. More coming very soon: www.instagram.com/reel/DW8mhW9...

Thank you very much, Mr Uematsu! merregnon.lnk.to/heartoficedi...

Part of the dear dream team behind Merregnon: Heart of Ice during the orchestral recording sessions with the LSO at Abbey Road Studios: Andrew Cottee (arrangement and orchestration), Jonathan Allen (recording and mix), and Jill Streater (music preparation). 😍

Overjoyed. 🥹 store.deccaclassics.com/collections/...

Onwards! 😍

The adventure continues with Merregnon: Heart of Ice and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie in three concerts this month. Looking forward! ❤️

25 years ago, the first Merregnon album was released. It’s remarkable how strongly it has shaped my path - and still does. Cliché or not, your early twenties are the time to try, create, and learn while you can still take risks (almost) freely.

Four years ago, Merregnon: Land of Silence was released as a concert film, featuring music by Yoko Shimomura (arr. Jonne Valtonen). Such a truly special outcome! ♥️

Inspiration gathering in progress for Merregnon: Heart of Ice.

😍

Oh, hello Annecy.

♥️

Wishing you a happy, happy birthday, Mr Uematsu!

Oh, hello Lisbon.

Oh, hello mysterious composer legend.

And more character design from Merregnon: Land of Silence, which was further developed by the Danish animation studio Sun Creature.

How sweet. Merregnon‘s Mako approves.

The character design for Merregnon: Land of Silence was further developed by the Danish animation studio Sun Creature to show the individual instruments that represent the different characters.

The concert film for Merregnon: Land of Silence was recorded in 2021 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. The cinematography was handled by David Tarrodi @yellowtone.bsky.social and his team, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the fairytale world.

The lightly animated illustrations for the Merregnon: Land of Silence concert film were created in South Korea by the animation studio Goindol.

While the original character design for Merregnon: Land of Silence was created by Tan Zhi Hui, the animation studio Sun Creature was responsible for its further development and the poster motif. The logo was designed by schech.net.

Four Merregnon: Land of Silence concerts took place at the beginning of the year with the Philzuid, in Eindhoven, Tilburg, Venlo and Kerkrade, conducted by Christian Schumann.

Merregnon: Land of Silence concerts in March 2023 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Andreas Hanson (Stockholm) and Lorenzo Antonio Iosco (Hong Kong).

The beautiful 40p+ booklet for each attendee of Merregnon: Land of Silence in Lausanne. The people in charge at the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne have done an incredible job and put so much love and commitment into this project.

On 1 June 2023, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra presented Merregnon: Land of Silence in two performances with music by Yoko Shimomura in a concert arrangement by Jonne Valtonen @jonnevaltonen.bsky.social at the Shanghai Symphony Hall.