The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, PlayStation and Classic FM have joined forces to present PlayStation In Concert.
The show at the Royal Albert Hall on May 30 will celebrate the role that computer games play in introducing a new generation of people to orchestral music.
The 80-strong Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by the City of London Choir. The programme includes music from Original PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PS4 titles including The Last Of Us, The Last Guardian, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, LittleBigPlanet and Horizon Zero Dawn.
The show will be presented by Jessica Curry, a leading figure in computer game music and composer of the BAFTA award-winning soundtrack to Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture. She also presented Classic FM’s High Score, the first series on British radio dedicated to video game music.
The concert will also feature the first use of EnCue, a real-time programme note app that delivers media and content to concertgoers’ smartphones during the performance.
James Williams, MD of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said: “PlayStation has been a force in the world of arts and entertainment for some of its fans’ entire lives. Many people today have grown up with the music video games, and have come to love the sound of the orchestra through playing. This truly 21st century concert, accompanied by the latest technology to enhance the concert experience, is a signpost for where orchestral music is expanding. It is fantastic that one of the world’s great orchestras will collaborate with other leaders in their fields to craft something very exciting for a new generation of concert goers.”
“Music is a vital component in our player’s overall gaming experience; it helps us truly immerse the player and transport them into exciting and unfamiliar worlds or emotionally driven experiences,” added Alastair Lindsay, head of audio, Worldwide Studios Creative Services Group. “With this in mind, it’s unsurprising that the appetite for video game soundtracks is growing all the time and that the music is being enjoyed in its own right. Having this opportunity to work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to realise some iconic PlayStation soundtracks in concert form is a dream come true. We have been working closely with game studios and composers to create new, and never before heard, arrangements to perform in one of the world's premier concert music venues."
Sam Jackson, Classic FM’s managing editor, said: “The success of our two series of High Score, and the fact that over half a million under-25-year-olds now listen to Classic FM every week, is proof of a growing younger audience for classical music in the UK. We’re really pleased to be partnering with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and PlayStation on this, the first event of its kind, which promises to be an exciting night of world-class music.”
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