The best film, TV and video game music in special NZSO conce

3 July 2018

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will explore exciting new worlds through the music of hit video games, television, and films in a special concert in Auckland on 27 July.

The Music of Comic Con will thrill and delight even first-time attendees with much-loved themes from a range of iconic pop culture media, including Super Mario Bros, Game of Thrones, Assassins Creed and more. This is the largest selection of film, television and video game music the NZSO has ever performed in one concert.

The audience are also encouraged to dress up as their favourite fantasy or sci-fi character.

The Music of Comic Con will include Ramin Djawadi’s unforgettable theme to worldwide TV hit Game of Thrones, John Williams’ iconic Imperial March from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Alexander Courage’s classic theme to Star Trek: The Original Series, and more.

Music from video game classics Super Mario Bros Theme, and Sonic Hedgehog will feature alongside music from today’s biggest-selling games – Grand Theft Auto, Assassins Creed and Uncharted. The concert will also include music from Titanfall 2, which the NZSO recorded for the hit game.

Other great movie music includes James Horner’s Aliens Suite No. 1, Danny Elfman’s Music from Spider-Man, David Arnold’s Stargate: Suite 1994 and Jerry Goldsmith’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture Main Theme.

Australian conductor and composer Gordon Hamilton will lead the NZSO for this spectacular night.

“Screen music is music of today. Much of it is so well-known and loved, it will be a huge thrill to hear it played live by a great orchestra,” says Hamilton. “I’m going to have uncontrollable goosebumps when I hear the Main Theme from Game of Thrones!”

“There is a great wealth of amazing music from film, TV and video games, and I’m so excited to bring it to the concert hall with the NZSO. Some of great composers of the modern era – such as John Williams, Ramin Djawadi and James Horner – have worked almost exclusively in screen music, creating monumental symphonic statements.”

Hamilton says he is also looking forward to special music effects required for some of the compositions. “Especially James Horner’s spooky sounds from his 1986 score for Aliens. The pianist has to strike the strings inside the piano with a percussion mallet. The violins start the piece playing very high and out of time, a visceral depiction of animal-like fear. Some of these effects sound unreal, as though they were made with software.

“Part of the excitement of a live orchestral concert is being able to see and hear other-worldly sounds made by acoustic instruments right in front of you.”

ENDS

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