An interactive, virtual concert this Saturday will allow people to listen to their favourite video game songs, performed live by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, from the comfort of their own home.
The Sound of Gaming by BBC Radio 3 will allow people to join a virtual world where they can earn points, play games and fly around, all while listening to the orchestra perform live.
The concert will be livestreamed directly into the virtual world and play music from popular games, including Fortnite, Baldur’s Gate, World of Warcraft, and God of War Ragnarök.
Director of the BBC Philharmonic Adam Szabo said: “There’s nothing like the thrill of hearing the BBC Philharmonic, especially as they dive into new territory with the energy and precision that has made them one of the most versatile orchestras in the country.
“The Sound of Gaming concert project continues our commitment to making world-class classical music accessible to the widest possible audience.
“It reflects our dedication to creativity and innovation, bringing audiences closer to the music they love in new ways and connecting with new audiences in ways that are both meaningful and inspiring.”
People can join the virtual world as a customisable avatar where they can watch the concert, interact with other avatars, explore the BBC Philharmonic’s virtual studios – including rooms such as a concert hall and a games room – and access exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Fans will also be able to interact with the instruments on display, listen to voice messages from members of the orchestra, play a quiz, and make their avatar conduct, clap, and fly along to the music throughout the performance.
Avatars will also be able to compete against one another on a leaderboard – earning points by collecting items inspired from the games of the soundtrack.
The concert is conducted by award-winning video game music conductor and composer Eímear Noone and hosted live by Elle Osili-Wood on BBC Radio 3’s Sound of Gaming.
People can join the concert for free via a portal on the BBC’s website from a laptop or desktop at 4pm on Saturday 30 November. Chrome browser is recommended.
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the soundtrack live at the BBC Philharmonic Studio in Media City – tickets for the in-person performance are available for £6.50.
Listeners can tune into the special live broadcast via BBC Radio 3 or the BBC Sounds app. The concert will also be available for 30 days on BBC Sounds.
Featured Image: The Sound of Gaming virtual concert. Images from BBC courtesy of RDMR.
