The Symphony of the Goddesses live concert was one of the greatest musical experiences I’ve ever had. The music itself was fantastic, but it was not the only factor that made the night memorable. The people who attended, other fans of The Legend of Zelda, filled the atmosphere with laughter, joy, and unity, making the environment all the more enjoyable.
I went to one of the Philadelphia shows with my mom, who knows enough about Zelda to enjoy herself and the music but has only touched a game console maybe once or twice. She actually really enjoyed the music and had helped me learn to play some of the songs on the piano. This was going to be fun for both of us, but it was still hard to talk about the game with her when I was getting so hyped up.
That’s, however, where the fans came in. I would overhear some conversations I could relate to or see a fantastically modeled costume or two that made me excited for the event. It felt like a convention — the environment felt so warm and inviting! I actually was starting to wish I had made a Zelda-themed costume for the event myself instead of just wearing my faded Ocarina of Time tee.
Throughout the event, everyone was very respectable when the performance went on, but there were, of course, those moments we all had to geek out. Every once and a while someone would make a funny comment about the video that corresponded with the music being played, though usually it was still in a hushed tone as to be polite. There was one moment, though, where a brave soul let his words be heard to the stadium surrounding him, and it was glorious.
It was the “Twilight Princess Symphonic Suite,” and being as it’s my favorite Zelda game, I was getting wrapped up in the melodies and visuals. Some of my favorite parts were when everyone would cheer as Link defeated a boss in the video, and Link had just defeated Ganondorf in this one. The credits theme was playing in the background, but the music was accompanying the reveal of Midna’s true form. The music was quiet, only playing a few strings as Link ran toward the Twilight Princess. Then, from the silence of the crowd, it was heard:
“Yeah, Link! You get that girl!”
Normally, such behavior at an orchestral performance would get you booed or shushed, but instead, we all laughed and cheered. It didn’t matter if you shipped MidLink, ZeLink, Lilia, or anyone at all — everyone in that crowd was standing and applauding as Link’s face lit up and Midna spoke once more after presumed being dead. The triumphant music returned, bringing tears to my eyes and widening the already huge smile I had on my face from that one man who had the courage to shout his best wishes for the hero we were all here to celebrate.
It’s silly, but for that suite, everything seemed all too real. We were watching Link’s Twilight Princess journey, a tale most of us knew before this event, but each and every one of us were so invested in seeing him come out on top. This was our hero saving the day, and we were sharing this experience together. Of course, all credit to the musicians who brought the medley to life, but the videographers knew what they were doing as well. They put together all the moments that made our hearts sing so we could celebrate this series that connected us.
