The Virtual Orchestra (PSVR)

System: PSVR 1
Price at Time Of Review: £2.99
Comfort Rating: Green (No Movement)
Genre: 360 Video and Animation
Input: DualShock Controller
Best Playing Position: Sitting, Standing
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: PG

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Description: In partnership with Southbank Centre and London VR specialists Inition, the Philharmonia Orchestra has created a VR experience that transports viewers to the South Bank in London, backstage into the Royal Festival Hall, then on stage in the centre of the orchestra as its Principal Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts a performance of Sibelius’ 5th Symphony. Essentially you get the best seat in the house. As well as being in 3D video, the experience is also captured in 3D spatial audio. The viewer can feel the audio move around them as they turn their head, so that they can focus on a particular player, section or hear the detail of the score pages turning.

Review: I consider myself to be quite open to just about any sort of music and wouldn’t say I prefer any particular genre. So taking a look at The Virtual Orchestra is something I can do with my eyes and ears open. This is a classical music 360 video about the Philharmonia Orchestra. Not just their performance in the Royal Festival Hall, but also a little peek backstage. In fact, the video starts off in the backstage area as both you and the musicians wait to go onto the stage. You can almost feel the nerves of the musicians as they tune their instruments and tap their feet with impatience. Then, a fade to black later and you find yourself looking directly at the conductor.

There is no controller or anything needed for your hands to do. You just need to sit back, listen and enjoy a performance that some would call the highlight of their lives. To be fair to The Virtual Orchestra experience it does indeed sound amazing and the quality of the 360 video is much, much better than many other “VR” experience. If you like this sort of music you’ll enjoy this immensely. But for most of us, this will probably be something that isn’t our cup of tea.