When a television series pops into your head, the musical score may be the last thing you think about. However, when it comes to Game of Thrones, the musical score, composed by Ramin Djawadi, is so popular it needs its own tour.
Walking into the Chicago venue of the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, the energy felt by the fans is contagious. The hardcore fans can be told apart from the others by the character costumes they are wearing.
Sitting down at the United Center and looking at the stage, one can easily see the dedication the design team has to delivering a quality entertainment experience. The set, lighting, music, and stage interactions make the experience a memorable one with musicians rising up from the mechanical platforms and becoming surrounded by fire, smoke, or both.
When thinking of an orchestral performance, one wouldn’t usually associate the composer as being a moving part of the show. That is where Djawadi breaks the mold. For certain songs, he detaches himself from the composing pedestal and moves to an instrument somewhere away from the rest of the orchestra where he showcases his musical talent.
The concert itself is an interactive experience for everyone in the audience. As the musicians play the songs, the corresponding scenes from the series are shown on large television monitors. The monitors are also sometimes used in unison with the effects, offering a unique blend of both visual and auditory elements that add to the show.
However, while the use of the screens was both visually appealing and gave context to the music, it may have worked a little too well. The intense battle scenes and character montages seemed to draw viewer attention so much that it was difficult to notice the elaborate performances on stage.
While it is awesome to see a battle of armies over a sprawling field, it takes away from the musicians rising with the pedestals or the vocalists walking across the stage as a congregation of monks would. The majesty of the on-stage performance almost became a back drop at some points to where you would have to remind yourself that you’re at a concert rather than a movie theatre.
Despite the amount of visuals, it does not take away from the atmosphere and energy that is present in every participating musician. The majority of musicians in the United Center ensemble were local artists with only a handful being part of the actual tour group. As a result, the experience enriches itself by showcasing the talent of the town it is in.
The Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience offers a live take on an already iconic sound. When all is said and done, one can bask in the closing medley that sounds like something out of a medieval pub: the end to a fantastic show.
Photo credit to Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience