From The Last of Us to Baldur's Gate 3: The success of the Game Music Festival
Two years ago, the Game Music Festival was held at London's Royal Festival Hall for the very first time, after five editions in its Polish homeland.
At the time, we noted how the venue, which can seat 2,700 people, was well attended, but not full. But the audience gave the two scores performed (Cuphead and both Ori titles) a very warm reception, and the event was undoubtedly a great success.
The Game Music Festival returned to London last Saturday, welcoming Larian's composer and music director Borislav Slavov for a concert presenting Baldur's Gate 3's music, and Oscar-winning Gustavo Santaolalla to perform The Last of Us' score. Both concerts featured the Philharmonia Orchestra and, in the case of BG3's performance, the Hertfordshire Chorus.
And the atmosphere was beyond anything we've previously witnessed at a games concert.
Santaolalla, one of the most revered film composers and musicians out there, was given a standing ovation before even playing a single note. His performance, changing instrument with almost every track alongside soloist and long-time collaborator Juan Luqui, explored every emotion, from tear-jerking instrumental pieces straight from TLOU's score, to electric songs from his repertoire extending that universe (if you've never listened to Ando Rodando, this is your sign to do so).
Later in the day, the Baldur's Gate 3 concert was filled to the brim, with the game's cast in the audience alongside many cosplayers, enjoying performances from solo soprani Ilona Ivanova and Mariya Anastasova on some of the game's iconic tracks, and the energy rising exponentially until a terrific finale that saw actor Andrew Wincott join Slavov on stage for a surprise performance of Raphael's Final Act.
The day also offered panels as well as masterclasses from both Slavov and Santaolalla. Securing both names for the Game Music Festival saw it sell out at the speed of light (BG3 in 24 hours, TLOU in a week); something that Mateusz Pawlak, founder of the Game Music Festival,
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