The surface a the Earth may be a blasted wasteland, it be music shops 'n symphony halls reduced t' smoldering ruins. But as long as humans survive, so too will music. it be in that spirit that I enjoy the music a Metro 2033 'n it be equally post-apocalyptic sequel, Metro: Last Light. The games have a distinct musical sensibility, as the grim men 'n women surviving in the irradiated Moscow Metro carry on the musical traditions a… well, mostly a folk guitar 'n heavy metal. Cool by me. Earlier today, Chris observed how many a the everyday-life details in Metro: Last Light can make the game's cities feel uniquely lived-in. I agree, 'n the music plays a big part in that. In Last Light's early goings, ye'll make a tour through a well-known entertainment city, sort a the last bastion a the theatre for post-apocalyptic Russia. Before ye pillage back on the road, ye'll have a chance t' watch an onstage musical revue. The performances be awkward in the way video game performances usually be (tiny audiences, stilted dancing, awkward looping applause animations), but there be a few musical gems, if ye stay for the whole show. me favorite performance be the one in the video above, in which a guitarist performs a famous theme by Italian violinist 'n composer Nicholò Paganini. it be called Caprice No. 24; here's a video a the great Jascha Heifetz performing it: I love this theme, partly because it be very nice on it be own, but mostly because when I be in high school, our symphonic band played an arrangement based on it. That piece be called Symphony Fantasy Variations a a Theme by Nicholo Paganini, composed by James Barnes. Check out the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra's performance: Looking through the YouTube comments, it seems it be popular among all-state high school wind ensembles. that be at least partly because it be arranged t' highlight each individual section in the band. I be always bummed that the saxophone variation be so calm, but listening t' it now, it be actually quite lovely. Nothing can top the solo bass clarinet movement, though. There's a lot a great music in the world a Metro: Last Light, but that performance stood out amidst the guitar strumming 'n heavy metal drumming. Paganini would probably be happy t' know that even in fictional post-apocalyptic Russia, his music lives on.