REVIEW: 'The Witcher in Concert' is an immersive tribute to a gaming legend
Last March 28, fans were transported back to the Continent through The Witcher in Concert, celebrating ten extraordinary years of the blockbuster The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt videogame.
The concert was staged at the Solaire Theater and performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra as part of Film Concerts PH’s series of pop culture musical events. Adding to the excitement was the special participation of Mikołaj Rybacki and Katarzyna Bromirska, members of Percival Schuttenbach, the Polish folk-metal band that helped compose the Witcher 3 music in the first place.
In a medium where relevance literally moves at the speed of technology, The Witcher 3 set a videogame industry benchmark that—a decade on—remains arguably unmatched in terms of gameplay, narrative, and overall presentation. Based on the bestselling novel series by author Andrzej Sapkowski, the game has spawned toys and comics, while attracting fans and winning over 800 awards from around the world. The game would even inform the visual aesthetic of the 2019 Henry Cavill-starring The Witcher series on Netflix, which helped introduced Geralt’s exploits to a broader audience.
With the 10th anniversary tour having already made the rounds in Europe and North America, Pinoy fans were beyond excited, with many turning out for Saturday’s concert in Witcher-inspired outfits, and some arriving in full cosplay. Even before the show started, the mood in the Solaire Theater lobby was electric, as the excited crowd took photos while discussing their favorite parts of the game.
The show began with opening remarks from conductor Paulina Porszka, who introduced the orchestra before calling Rybacki and Bromirska to the stage. Decked out in a Geralt-inspired outfit of her own, Porszka reminded us that this wasn’t going to be a traditional concert; with the music being complemented by a screen showing montages of well-edited cinematics, fans were invited to sound off to their hearts’ content at their favorite moments.
The Witcher in Concert kicked off with a brilliant rendition of the game’s prologue, before giving way to nine “chapters” retelling the story of The Wild Hunt and its two DLC’s, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. As the music and footage took us through memorable moments (Geralt’s infamous bathtub scene definitely got its cheers) we were reintroduced to the unmatched wonder and terrifying darkness of The Witcher’s world. Enthralled by the rich melodies and layered harmonies, we joined Geralt’s desperate search for his adopted daughter, Ciri, punctuated by moments of brutality, beauty, and betrayal (often all at once).
Being a game where the story is directly affected by the player’s choices, some of the evening’s footage was met with knowing smiles from those who’d played through certain sections and chosen differently. That being said, the ability to relive classic moments – regardless of player preference or skill level– through the combined prowess of brilliant performers was priceless in and of itself; the fact that some of those musicians helped create what we were hearing made it downright unforgettable.
Alongside the (conventional) 14-piece ensemble, the duo from Percival stood out with their distinct costumes and traditional instruments, with Rybacki alternating a pair of long-necked lutes, while Bromirska did double duty on the Byzantine lyra amidst delivering her share of ethereal vocal solos. While the overall group was smaller than those assembled for, say, The Empire Strikes Back or The Infinity Saga concerts, the eclectic compositions and energetic performances provided an intimate, visceral kick for everyone in attendance.
Following the main concert, Porszka’s announcement that they would be performing two surprise numbers just about brought the house down, with the first being a presentation of the iconic Witcher 3 pre-launch trailer. For this, Bromirska’s rendition of the accompanying “Lullaby of Woe” captivated the audience in all its haunting beauty. The next encore was the full reveal trailer for The Witcher 4 (with a now-weathered Ciri in the lead) which highlighted the series’ new direction, while the musicians gave us a fantastic preview of the Percival tunes to come.
From beginning to end, The Witcher in Concert was a master class in balancing music art with an authentic fan experience, as the live performance added a new dimension to a beloved game, while expanding upon it, to the delight of everyone in attendance.
This, truly, was an event not to be missed.
