The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. I got experience the songs of the game at the Zelda Symphony Orchestra at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. For almost 30 years, The Legend of Zelda game series has captured the imagination of Gamers young and old worldwide. This is through its innovative gameplay and iconic tale of good versus evil.
Gamers the world over have followed Link (the game protagonist) on his adventures, growing as individuals right alongside him, while learning valuable lessons and creating everlasting memories along the way.
Fusion of gaming and music
The Symphony aims to bring the gaming experience right into the real world through music. Now in its fourth season and touring across the world, The Symphony of the Goddesses brings Zelda fans and symphony goers alike an entirely new, exciting multimedia experience. It presents 3 decades of music from The Legend of Zelda right here in the Singapore MasterCard Grand Theater in Marina Bay Sands.
Since the Symphony announcement on E3 2011, the Legend of Zelda series had expanded from a single four minute song into a full concert. It comprises of a number of game songs played in the Zelda series of games. The show was brought to you by Nintendo and Base Entertainment. Moreover, the show endures as a heartfelt reminder that Courage Power and Wisdom are true forces and vital steps in the path of the hero as in the game series.
The Orchestra
The symphony orchestra was laid out with percussion on the left, pipes and bases on the right, strings (violins and harps) on the front and vocals on the center rear. With the exception of percussions lagging behind the group and an occasional out of tune violin, the performance was great. There was a good mix of pace covering a variety of songs throughout the various game series.
The show began with first Act with interludes from the Dragon Roost island, Majora’s Mask Medly, Breath of the Wild Medly, A link between worlds. Symphonies played in the first act included The creation of Hyrule, Skywards Sword and Ocarina of Time.
Throughout the Symphony, you get forewords via video recordings from Koji Kondo himself. He is one of the most renowned video game composers and sound directors since the early NES days. Furthermore, Nintendo game creator Shigeru Miyamoto, and Eji Aonuma, director and producer of the Legend of Zelda series were there in video to honor of The Legend of Zelda’s long legacy.
Meet Jessica Gethin
The symphony was led by Australian composer Jessica Gethin. She was listed by the Australian Financial Review as one of 100 most influential women in Australia for 2015. Moreover, the award winning conductor served as Chief Conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra for Western Australia. She is also the Artistic Director of the Perth Chamber Orchestra.
Following a 15 minute intermission, Act two saw an Intermezzo with Temple of Time. Subsequently, this is followed by third movement, The Wind Waker. From here, it continued with the 4th Movement was Twilight Princess and 5th Movement- Time of the Falling Rain. Finally, the show concluded with the Finale song.
However, the end of the Symphony however was pretty anti-climatic. Jessica the conductor started abruptly hopping off-stage into the curtains and back on-stage several times at the end of the symphony. It was almost like a stage ritual to get an encore. Also, this also left the audience and the orchestra crew in the lurch and puzzled at times of her sudden change in whereabouts. Several members of the orchestra seen rolling their eyes at her many sudden departures.
The concert ended in thanks to the concertgoer for taking part in this special celebration of Zelda’s rich musical history.
In many ways, this celebrated music from the entire Zelda series made an indelible impact on the fans that love it so. Notably, the theater shop was packed even after the show. It was overflowing with fans frantically snapping up all limited Zelda T-shirt merchandise.
Played well was the concert. It fulfilled its aim to warm the heart quite like the poignant melodies that echo throughout the Kingdom of Hyrule.
Like the Heroes of Hyrule, may the way of the Hero lead to the Triforce.
