Opera Pianist Hears Video Game Music for the first time (Full Version)

KATHLEEN KELLY’s projects and repertoire are wide-ranging and diverse. She is both deeply experienced in the classical vocal canon and engaged in new creation. Recent notable projects include FORCE OF NATURE, a recording and recital tour with soprano Emily Albrink of four world premiere song cycles; leading the world premiere of Matt Bohler’s opera FAT PIG, composed for activist soprano Tracy Cox; and co-starring with soprano Jennifer Cresswell in the filmed opera INTERSTATE, composed by Kamala Sankaram, directed by Tonya McKinny, and produced by Minnesota Opera and Helio Arts.

Kathleen has appeared in recital collaborations with many singers, most recently Jamie Barton, Elena Villalon, Ryan McKinny, and Caitlin Lynch. She has performed internationally including at Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Spivey Hall, and Vienna’s Musikverein. She is a published poet and essayist, and has written several English adaptations of operas as well as several librettos. She has worked with many opera companies including the San Francisco, Metropolitan, Houston Grand, and Vienna State Operas, and she is regularly invited to speak and write on womens’ issues in the industry. Recently relocated to Texas, she is the founding artistic director of Lone Star Songs.
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[CefcaPalazzo]

3:00 - Elden Beast
12:41 - Towards Her Light
21:34 - Archange
32:43 - Die Mittsommernacht-fantasie
40:36 - Moebius Battle
47:57 - Duviri Paradox
1:00:42 - Lament of Orpheus
1:16:46 - Ludwig the Accursed/Ludwig the Holy Blade
1:25:29 - The Traveler
1:31:49 - To The Edge
1:39:23 - Children of the Omnissiah
1:45:02 - Liberi Fatali
1:49:55 - Dancing Perfectly Reasonably Clear Of Mind, Thank You Very Much.
1:55:49 - Field of Hopes and Dreams
1:58:54 - Megalovania
2:06:11 - Kindred

I took long typing this so I hope nobody did it before me.

[jacobhumphrey]

It is so great that you took a highly respected member of such a classy and refined world and made her listen to Megalovania.

[fishiefish]

59:55 I’d like to point out that Darren Korb is not only the composer for all the music in Hades and all of Supergiant’s other games; he also voices the main character Zagreus in the game and sings as Orpheus in this song and several others. The man is incredible.

[Sollarious]

Seeing the genuine joy on Kathleen's face when the Toby Tracks started playing was just such a joy to see. The mixing of two eras essentially, and I was totally onboard with it.

[jesseberg]

So I just found your channel.

I am a gamer, and my Mom was really into Opera and classical music.

Over the years she listened to me talk about a lot (and I mean one heck of a lot) of things about video games that she really couldn't have cared less about. But occasionally, I found something that would bring our interests together, and I treasured those moments.

She died last year.

Anyway, it was a couple of weeks ago when I first found your channel. I saw your video on the Maria and Draco Opera sequence from FF6 first, and I had this immediate urge to share it with her. She would really have enjoyed that, especially how you brought in the clips from all the operas that Nobuo-san had clearly been listening to before he wrote it.

I'm sorry I didn't get the opportunity to share it with her. But hey, I can't be the only JRPG nerd out there with a classically trained parent, looking for common ground. So keep doing what you're doing.

[akira-hrtv]

I don't know if she will ever see this but THANK YOU KATHLEEN FOR GIVING THIS CORNER OF THE MUSIC WORLD CHANCE❤️😊

[Nivmax]

That reminds me of a few years ago, when I went to Paris for the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra concert. I was just entering when I saw this old lady, easily in her 80s who entered right next to me. I don't know if she actually played the games or just liked orchestral music. But it didn't matter, we both came for some good music. She noticed me looking at her and we smiled at each other. She probably had the same thought, that it's amazing how completely different people can enjoy the same thing.

[Yesat-Erday]

And let's not forget that Lament of Orpheus is sung by Darren Korb, who also wrote all the music, played a good part of the music, voiced the main character (someone else (Michael Ailshie) voiced Orpheus for the speaking parts), and participated deeply into the development of the game itself.

Also, he worked with Austin Wintory (composer for Journey, The Pathless, Banner Saga, ...) and the London Symphony Orchestra to adapt a lot of his songs to a full orchestra.

[jdogzerosilverblade]

as maxor once said.
"i dont know what it is about japanese composers being able to conduct symphonies better than the country that created them"

[MythrilZenith]

I love that you're using your position as a veritable "bridge" between these two worlds to introduce more people on the classical/operatic side of the real joy and variety of video game music! I always got looked down on and treated poorly for not listening to "real music" growing up, so it's nice to finally see some appreciation going on, one song at a time <3

[AzamaraSehki]

I now want a continuing podcast in this format with you and your operatic friends going over all kinds of music. Absolutely love this.

[ryandovaston]

Lament of Orpheus - 1:00:35
For anyone coming from the video

[Mindistortt]

Liberi Fatali sounds still fresh after so many years, look at Kathleen smiling and enjoying the whole piece.

[Kaizelot]

Why am i crying? It makes me ao happy seen other people been amazed by the stuff i love

[MattBateson]

If you find an opportunity to do another session with her like this, I would love to see it. It was a joy to watch and there is so much more to explore.

[Puzzlesocks]

I watched this the other day and kept thinking about her not hearing any video game music since Asteroids. I think you picked a pretty good list but I'd love to see an encore performance with a little Skyrim, a little Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, a dash of Transistor or Pyre, a sprinkle of Halo. It's so hard to actually pick because of how much phenomenal VG music is out there now. Great guest!

[KooriGraywolf]

I love the pure joy on her face when she first hears all the chiptune sounds. From what she said it seems that she is familiar with the sounds and they remind her of her younger years, but stepped away from that world enough that hearing them again feels like a massive throwback

[gigaganon]

Happy to see there's the full version here!

[FatalisReigns]

man, hearing Kathleen talk about her friend doing the study on men singing in higher ranges comparing to metal singers was so interesting and makes me really want to see her reaction of Jinjer - Pisces so we can hear her thoughts on the opposite of that haha

[CelticBotansDigitalArt]

This was such a treat! Ngl, it was so cool to hear you two geeking out about music, and Kathleen Kelly's reactions and input were super interesting to hear, and to see her learning more about game music. Thanks for this, and for all the song recs, I didn't know a lot of them myself, so I was right there alongside, learning and listening stuff for the first time!

(My personal favorite organ playing scene in movies, I'll have to go for Davy Jones in Pirates 2, haha. So badass! And favorite organ soundtrack, not being played onscreen by the characters but as soundtrack is the "No Time For Caution" scene in Interestellar <3)