Elden Ring
Symphonic Adventure
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Benjamin Northey
Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. and Overlook Events
Sydney Opera House
Saturday 14 March
There was a lot to enjoy about the latest Symphonic film presentation by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. For one thing, unlike Gladiator and Stars War, this film was created by production companies especially for the program. One assumes that the lavish legendary landscapes and fantasy architecture was derived directly from the video game that had such success in 2022. Ditto for the characters, and narration. Without playing the original game one cannot be sure how much the excellent cinematographic treatment was created specifically for this symphonic film (and all its international presentations), or appropriated directly from the game. The action with dragons and creatural adversaries blocking the adventure certainly seemed like a literal reproduction of video game action.
In any event, seeing a game, usually experienced in smaller private screens, on the huge Concert Hall rear cyc, with changing coloured lights above, the full orchestra and a large Philharmonia Choir, was transformative of a game experience. The narrative of the Tarnished seeking redemption by becoming a Elden Lord became an epic, larger than life odyssey to the Erdtree – Major moments of the journal to the Erdtree assumed a mythic or legendary quality. The music framed the game visuals – it did a lot more than accompany like a sound track or underscoring, already distributed films like Gladiator. The original music (from Software sound team) helped create an event in its own right: the rich range of the choir and orchestra was foregrounded and enhanced by the visuals. Some of the sequences, of landscaped and voice narration, reach an exalted lyrical pitch. The result was a truly multi media or multi form event. One could sense a new genre for original orchestral scores, to accompany animated version of Greek, biblical or medieval myths – if production economics permitted.
The audience was mainly young, and mainly, one guessed, followers or players of the game. The audience would have been mightily impressed and surprised by the new performative dimension of their private or small group treasured game. Now the game resonated into the vast scale and musical depths of the concert hall. Applause was appreciative, the audience was always attentive.
The only disclaimer on this appraisal was the violent blood churning contests that seem ubiquitous in video game genres. A captive audience would enjoy these more than someone fresh to the material. The fights could be a turn off for some older audiences – but they were probably not in the Concert Hall to see the Elden Ring.
Another work in a legendary genre – Lord of the Rings – is being presented by the SSO mid year. It could be a show well worth attending.
Geoffrey Sykes
