Ori and the Blind Forest is remembered to this day as one of the most ambitious platformer games, not merely because of its flawless mechanics and visual design but also – if not mainly – because of its music. Composed by Gareth Coker, the soundtrack combines sublime melodies with lyrical themes to form a warm and organic soundtrack.
The universally acclaimed sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, quickly gained a reputation of being a masterpiece in its own right, thanks once again to another unforgettable score by Gareth Coker – an Ivor Novello Award winner and multi-BAFTA-nominated composer.
Both of these soundtracks form the musical material of The Symphony of the Spirits, the second concert of Game Music Festival 2022. Maestro Robert Kurdybacha is no stranger to the music of video games; as a conductor and arranger, he is an experienced academic tutor who wrote several fan-favourite symphonies for previous Game Music Festivals.
The performance by Philharmonia Orchestra and Hertfordshire Chorus will take the audience on a journey through Ori’s world as never heard before. Woodwinds soloist Kristin Naigus, who performed all of Ori’s specialist woodwinds in the original soundtracks, is also joining us on our musical journey.