Game music is something that I admittedly take for granted. It always just is. Every now and then, though, a game’s soundtrack really stands out and enhances the game’s experience. Spiritfarer comes to mind, there. But video game music is often not associated with high-class orchestras, or live music altogether. That’s why it’s so exciting that a group as prestigious as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra is choosing to highlight video game music, unfortunately for one night only.
Game highlights include Hades, Dear Esther, Resident Evil, and Chrono Cross. The orchestra will be joined onstage by vocalists Aisling McGlynn (Chrono Cross) and Lauren McGlynn (Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta Origins), and award-winning conductor/composer Eímear Noone (World of Warcraft) who is known for conducting game music concerts around the globe.
The full program is:
- World of Warcraft – Suite
- Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope – Suite
- Sea of Thieves – Suite
- Hades – “No Escape”
- The Last of Us – “All Gone (No Escape)”
- Fortnite – Suite
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps – “Main Theme”
- Dear Esther & So Let Us Melt – “I Have Begun My Ascent/The Leaving”
- Civilization VI – “Sogno di Volare (The Dream of Flight)”
- The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – “Lullaby of Woe”
- Resident Evil 5 – “Wesker Battle”
- Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II – Suite
- Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition – “Main Theme” and “Memories of My Soul”
- Dragon Age: Inquisition – Suite
- World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor – “Malach, Angel Messenger”
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – Suite
- Tetris (2023 film) – “The Final Countdown”
Materia Music is the event’s ticket sponsor. It’s a game music label that releases lots of compilations and rearrangements, including a favourite of mine: Stardew Valley Piano Collections. Materia has an incredibly diverse roster of composers, recording artists, and game companies. It has published some of the most impactful and most listened-to video game music.
Video Games in Concert is a live symphonic event that will take place on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. GMT at the renowned Royal Albert Hall in London. Tickets can be purchased here.
