GET ready for an epic adventure into the realm of legendary video games as the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) presents concerts themed 'Heroes: A Video Game Symphony' on Dec 14.
The concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur is a multi-faceted concert that reflects the MPO's creative orchestral ability to come up with a diverse range of music and present an exhilarating experience of video games combined with the richness of orchestral music.
Under the baton of Resident Conductor Gerard Salonga, the concert will transport the audience to fantastical lands, heart-pounding battles and triumphant victories, all set to the unforgettable melodies of favourite video games.
With gameplay visuals in perfect sync with the live accompaniment by the MPO, fans can prepare for a transcendental experience beyond ordinary as the showcase takes the audience from their video game console to the concert hall through iconic themes from beloved games such as 'Castlevania', 'Diablo', 'Halo', 'Metal Gear Solid', and 'Assassin's Creed'.
Prior to this, the MPO has presented sold-out concerts delivering music of 'Final Fantasy' as part of the Distant Worlds concert tour series in 2012, 2014 and 2019.
'The Heroes: A Video Game Symphony' concert is a continuation of such offerings to gamers and music lovers.
In a recent interview, Salonga said: "We chose video games songs for a classical concert because of the unique sound and strong fan following.
"For an orchestra to hold a concert featuring the music of video games is much like a concert of film music.
"It is a nod to the achievement of the composers, as well as recognising the wide reach of this music."
SPECIAL
Salonga added that gamers' experiences of hearing these scores during gameplay give them a special relationship with it, and to hear it in the beautiful natural acoustic of the DFP will provide them with a very different sonic experience.
"It may very well change the way they perceive the games once they get back to playing them after they've attended the concert."
He said that his sister was an avid video game player and in the orchestra, there were a few gamers as well.
"I'm sure they are fans of the games we will feature in the concert. I'm from an era when video games were just beginning and I still remember going to an arcade and dropping coins into the machine to play!
"It is amazing to see and hear just how far gaming has come since those days, and of course, ''m very happy that orchestras are used to record the scores for video games just as they are used for films."
MEMORIES
Salonga said that the music of 'Castevania' brought back great memories.
"I also like 'World Of Warcraft' and 'Starfield'. I like the driving rhythm that a lot of these scores have and it'll be fun to play for a room full of people who also like them."
As for challenges, Salonga is thankful that there were not many of them, because the composers conceived the music as they would for film scores.
"The bigger challenge is re-assembling them into concert works that don't necessarily need what the scores usually need specifically for gameplay.
"Much of the material is distilled into a form that can be used in concerts so the challenge is more of an editorial one."
The concert was conceptualised by his friend, Jason Michael Paul, whom he has worked with before on 'National Geographic: Symphony For Our World' with the MPO in 2018.
"I still remember when this was just a concept on paper and he turned it into a real concert that fans can enjoy.
"A professional orchestra like the MPO doesn't need much rehearsal to be able to perform a concert like this.
"Every member will prepare themselves and rehearsals are a matter of putting everything together."
BUSY
He said that the orchestra had been busy rehearsing for more than a month and they will rehearse for about eight hours a day during the week prior to the concert.
"One of our core activities is to keep performing great classical music.
"It is timeless and is a continuing source of inspiration because of its beauty and complexity.
"Aside from that, we're doing a lot of film music, movie screenings, concerts featuring local and international pop singers, and even opera and ballet," said Salonga.
Salonga said that for 2025, MPO will have lots of good concerts, and aside from the core classical symphonic repertoire, they will be performing the Harry Potter film, 'The Chamber Of Secrets', live with the film projected on a big screen.
"I'm also excited to conduct 'La La Land' this year. Our New Year's concert in January 2025 will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of one of the most beloved composers of all time, Johann Strauss II who was responsible for a lot of beautiful waltzes and polkas that are featured in the Vienna Philharmonic's annual New Year's Eve concert.
"I'm also very excited about our Valentine's concert entitled 'Essential Love Stories', and I hope it makes for a great date night."