BBC Radio 3 and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra bring video game music to life with FREE Virtual Concert: The Sound of Gaming

BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra are bringing the magic of video game music from the concert hall straight into the world of gaming with The Sound of Gaming – a virtual, live concert for fans across the UK, performed by the BBC Philharmonic on Saturday 23 November at 4pm GMT.


This innovative concert, developed exclusively for BBC Radio 3’s Sound of Gaming as part of a pilot project in partnership with BBC Research & Development working in the MAX–R project with Improbable, will allow audience members to attend virtually as avatars directly from their browsers. The experience employs cutting-edge technology to let users explore, interact, and enjoy a live orchestral performance of music from the nation’s best-loved game soundtracks virtually from their own home.


Conducted by award-winning video game music conductor and composer Eímear Noone and filmed at the BBC Philharmonic Studio in Media City, Salford, The Sound of Gaming will feature the BBC Philharmonic performing a concert within the world of the game with live performances of music from popular video games, including Fortnite, Baldur’s Gate, World of Warcraft, and God of War Ragnarök.


The concert created in the virtual world will allow fans to join as avatars, embarking on an interactive adventure through a dynamic immersive environment. Audience members will also have the opportunity to interact and connect with other avatars and gaming music fans across the UK, explore the virtual BBC Philharmonic’s virtual studios, access exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Fans will be able to learn more about the world of the orchestra by interacting with the instruments on display and enjoy having their avatar conduct, clap, and even fly along to the music while they perform.


The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3’s Sound of Gaming, hosted by Elle Osili-Wood.
The virtual concert can be accessed here.


Tickets for the live in person performance in Salford are available for £6.50 here
Listeners can tune into the special live broadcast via BBC Radio 3 or the BBC Sounds app. The concert will also be available for 30 days on BBC Sounds.


Director of the BBC Philharmonic, Adam Szabo says: "There's nothing like the thrill of hearing the BBC Philharmonic, especially as they dive into new territory with the energy and precision that has made them one of the most versatile orchestras in the country. The Sound of Gaming concert project continues our commitment to making world-class classical music accessible to the widest possible audience. It reflects our dedication to creativity and innovation, bringing audiences closer to the music they love in new ways and connecting with new audiences in ways that are both meaningful and inspiring.”


This work was carried out in the MAX-R project, co-funded by Innovate UK and the Horizon Europe Research & Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101070072.


-- ENDS –
 
 
Programme:

Wilbert Roget II Call of Duty: WWII - A Brotherhood of Heroes
Gareth Coker (arr. Noone and Garfinkle) Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Brian Tyler Call of Duty 3, Modern Warfare
Pinar Toprak Fortnite
Eímear Noone World of Warcraft: Malach
Jessica Curry Dear Esther (I Have Begun My Ascent)
Peter McConnell Psychonauts 2 (Lady Luctopus)
Craig Stuart Garfinkle Baldur’s Gate II (Dark Alliance Suite)
Inon Zur Starfield (Suite)
Bear McCreary God of War Ragnarök (Blood Upon Snow)
Trad. Tetris Opera (Finale)

 
For further press information please contact:


Rebecca Driver Media Relations
Email: flora@rdmr.co.uk | web: www.rdmr.co.uk 


Notes to Editors 
 
About the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the most celebrated broadcast ensembles in the world, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s
distinctive energy, lightning speed, and iconic musical character has moved and inspired audiences for over 100 years. Founded in 1922 as the 2ZY Orchestra, the Philharmonic has played an essential part in shaping the Greater Manchester region into an unmissable cultural destination and a hub for world-class talent in orchestral music.

Outside of the Philharmonic Studio, their broadcast home at MediaCityUK, the orchestra presents a flagship series at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall as well as live concerts recorded in venues across the country, at the BBC Proms, and on tour. Whether encountered in the concert hall, heard on the air, seen on television, or streamed on BBC Sounds and iPlayer, the work of the orchestra is enjoyed by millions of listeners every year.
The orchestra’s Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, an inspiring musical leader who has built a close relationship with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra over many years. The celebrated English composer Anna Clyne is the orchestra’s Composer in Association.

Artistic innovation and the development of a new audience for classical music has been a keen focus of the orchestra for many years. In June 2024, the Philharmonic gave the world premiere of Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds, an immersive symphonic experience, at the cutting-edge Aviva Studios in Manchester. Other recent UK and world premieres include music by Anna Appleby, Gerald Barry, Erland Cooper, Tom Coult, Sebastian Fagerlund, Emily Howard, Robert Laidlow, James Lee III, Grace-Evangeline Mason, David Matthews, Outi Tarkiainen and Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

Engagement work for children and young people continues to be a vital part of the orchestra’s work. At the end of 2023 the Philharmonic released Musical Storyland, a 10-part television series featuring the musicians of the orchestra, which brings famous stories from around the world to life using the power of music. This was the first time an orchestra has been commissioned to make a series of films for UK network television. To date, Musical Storyland has been streamed over five million times.

 
About MAX-R

MAX-R is a 30-month research and innovation project funded through the Horizon Europe programme. The interdisciplinary Consortium of eleven partners from five countries covers the chain from technology development and product innovation to creative experiment and demonstration, and from XR media creation to delivery to the final consumer. It is built around Europe’s leading media technology developers, together with creative organisations operating in AR/VR/MR, Virtual Production, interactive games, new media, TV, video and news, multimedia and immersive performance.

 
About BBC Radio 3


BBC Radio 3 is the home of classical music. From concerts and festivals across the UK, to the annual BBC Proms every summer, the station brings audiences a wealth of live classical music that you will not hear anywhere else.


Radio 3 also showcases a range of other genres, with British jazz every weeknight courtesy of ‘Round Midnight, to global and early music, ambient, electronic, experimental, and all that’s in between. Whether it is music to challenge and intrigue, or to relax and contemplate to – we welcome you to join us on BBC Sounds, on your smart speaker, on DAB, and on FM.


Alongside our live music offering, Radio 3’s programming includes lively arts debate and news, fascinating documentaries, essays and audio drama. We celebrate the breadth – and the best – of music from across the country and, thanks to our membership of the European Broadcasting Union, from across the continent too. BBC Radio 3 brings a fresh perspective to well-loved artistic works and invests in new talent, to bring cutting-edge culture to audiences everywhere. Each year,  the station commissions a raft of new pieces from a range of composers, and champions young artists through partnerships and the BBC’s  own talent development programmes, including the world-renowned New Generation Artists scheme.


Radio 3 is the UK’s only broadcaster of live classical concerts, including every note of the BBC Proms – from the Royal Albert Hall and at venues across the UK. Specially-recorded music is at the heart of what the station offers daily, whether in Classical Live on weekday afternoons, Opera on 3 on Saturday nights, to Radio 3 In Concert, Choral Evensong and much more. Our presenters welcome listeners with their wealth of musical knowledge - from Petroc Trelawny, Soweto Kinch, Georgia Mann, Katie Derham,  Jools Holland, Tom Service, Tom McKinney to name a few, plus a wide range of guest contributors bringing their range of insight and expertise.

For regular listeners and for those tuning into the station for the first time, there’s a Radio 3 for everybody.


Ellie Osili-Wood

Elle Osili-Wood is an award-winning television presenter and broadcaster. A celebrated entertainment host, Elle’s career has seen her named a BAFTA Breakthrough in television, and nominated for an ARIA as a presenter of BBC Front Row. She is widely recognised for her work in film, which includes being an entertainment presenter for ITV, fronting the BFI Future Film Awards, and hosting red carpets for Netflix and BAFTA, while her extensive career in video games, presenting BBC Sound of Gaming, as well as twice hosting the BAFTA Games Awards, has seen her described as “one of the most influential women in games” by Google.

www.elleosiliwood.com
 
Eimear Noone

Eímear Noone is a Los Angeles/Dublin-based conductor and award-winning Irish composer, composing extensively for film and video games. As one of the world’s premier composers of games scores, Eímear is responsible for some of the most enduring soundscapes on World of Warcraft and other best-selling video games. Through her music on World of Warcraft, Eímear’s music has reached over a 100 million people and continually inspired players to invent and build new worlds for nearly fifteen years. Her composition portfolio of twenty-eight film and video-game titles have received multiple industry accolades including the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Video Game Score.

Alongside composing, Eímear conducts orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Sydney Symphony. Notably in 2020, Eímear made history by becoming the first female conductor to perform at the 92nd Academy Awards’ ceremony.
www.eimearnoonemusic.com