Game of Thrones Live at the Viejas Arena was a phenomenal experience which allowed fans to relive all the highlights from the series.

If you don’t watch Game of Thrones… you are definitely missing out! After the concert, my excitement for season 8 has reached unprecedented heights. For those unfamiliar, German composer Ramin Djawadi is the mind behind all the beautiful, heartbreaking, and intense scores we hear during the show that always leaves us wanting more.

In addition to his work on Game of Thrones, Djawadi attended Berklee College of Music, worked with Hans Zimmer. and even won an Emmy for his work on the Season 7 Finale “The Dragon and the Wolf.” His contributions to Game of Thrones are embedded within the show’s DNA; Just as the characters and houses have evolved over time, so too has his themes. For example, Daenerys Targaryen’s theme started small, but became progressively more powerful after each season. Daenerys has proven herself to be a “Khaleesi” to many, so it’s only fitting her song grew with her. Her theme was initially built with only a cello, and has progressed into the powerful and strong song that it is now. During the concert, as Daenerys became stronger, she would say ‘dracarys’ and the stage would glow in flames.

Djawadi conducted an 80-piece orchestra along with a local choir. The set up included a screen that projected the show and multiple stages that separated parts of the world in the series. There was a stage dedicated to King’s Landing and one to Winterfell, with the Iron Throne directly in the middle.

Several soloists surrounded the stage, each dedicating their mastery to a specific song. Violin soloist Molly Rogers performed the House Stark theme while ascending into the air with a huge dress on, as rose petals fell from the sky! Some instruments were even specially crafted for the tour, including a 14-ft Wildling horn, which was used during a scene on the attack of the Wall. A lovely soloist brought fans to heaven (and tears) when they heard “The Rains of Castamere.” With scenes as heartwarming as Ygritte and Jon Snow’s cave scene, to the bloody and heart wrenching The Red Wedding, you are thrown headfirst into the very best moments of Game of Thrones. As “The Light of the Seven” was playing, the whole audience held their breath knowing the Wildfire was about to be lit. I intensely cried during a specific scene of Hodor’s (if you know, you know) as my fellow KCR member Peter Swan comforted me.

During the show, Djawadi even admitted that he had to write the music for season 7 before the writing for the show was even released. He also acknowledged that putting together the Game of Thrones Live Tour took over 3 years. This means they were continuously adding the music as the show was being released!

I am extremely lucky to have had this opportunity to see Ramin Djawadi in action and the unique experience of how the series was brought to life. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear Djawadi’s work, whether from Game of Thrones, or any of his other work, I strongly recommend it.