Ultimate geekiness!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-01-26 09:26am

http://www.play-symphony.com/news.php?full=7

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., January 25, 2006 - Today, JMP Productions announced the world-premiere for PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, the international concert series with music from a catalogue of blockbuster videogames. The concert will be presented in Chicago at the Rosemont Theater on Saturday, May 27, 2006.

The PLAY! concert at the Rosemont Theater will feature award-winning music from titles such as FINAL FANTASY (R), SILENT HILL (R), BATTLEFIELD 1942 (TM), METAL GEAR SOLID (R), WORLD OF WARCRAFT (R), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (R), THE ELDER SCROLLS III: MORROWIND (TM) and SHENMUE (TM). Outstanding graphics on large screens above the orchestra accompany the scores, highlighting memorable moments from the video games.

VIP tickets will be available for this performance, offering fans a meet and greet opportunity with composers Jeremy Soule (THE ELDER SCROLLS III: MORROWIND [TM]), Yuzo Koshiro (SHENMUE [TM]), Marty O'Donnell (HALO [TM]), Jason Hayes (WORLD OF WARCRAFT [R]) and others.

The Rosemont Theatre hosts many of the top cultural events in the Chicago area, including lavish Broadway Musicals, world class entertainers, and the renowned Chicagoland Pops Orchestra all set in a luxurious 4,400 seat theatre with 100% unobstructed views of the stage! The 2-hour program produced by Jason Michael Paul, will be conducted by Grammy award winning Arnie Roth, music director and principal conductor of the Chicagoland Pops. This concert is presented by the orchestra in association with Jason Michael Paul Productions.

Says Jason Michael Paul, producer of PLAY!: "I am thrilled with the idea of coming back to Chicago with a bigger and better show. There is a lot of sentimental value since Chicago was the first tour stop for Dear Friends and now is going to be the first tour stop for PLAY!. I am hopeful that this new show will exceed the expectations of video game lovers and music aficionados.".

Says Arnie Roth, music director and principal conductor of PLAY!: “The orchestra and chorus are truly the featured artists, not relegated to a back-up role. Fans are excited to hear the music of the great videogame composers, like Nobuo Uematsu, Jeremy Soule and Akira Yamaoka in a spectacular concert hall, performed by some of the world’s greatest orchestras.".

All tickets including the VIP meet and greet are available at the box office, Ticketmaster locations, by credit card at 312-559-1212 or on the internet at http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1009980.

Yes, people will pay money to see a concert of music from popular videogames.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-01-26 09:30am

Why not, if it's professionally presented ? Video game music has come a long way, and I would actually pay to hear the score of, for example, Morrowind as an actual concert.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2006-01-26 09:32am

Hey, music's music. I happen to enjoy the Morrowind and 1942 themes irrespective of their source and simply as pieces of music, so why the hell not?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-01-26 09:33am

Morrowind played?

Is anyone from here going?

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2006-01-26 09:36am

This is no different, really, than the "Music of Final Fantasy" which happened last year. A professionally conducted peice of some of the most popular songs from the Final Fantasy series. Each of those shows sold out last year, and people were still trying to squirm thier way into the limited showings.

I'll echo Bounty in saying that video game music (as I'm sure you yourself have experienced with your addiction to the Total War series) has come along, long way. I'd gladly pay to hear some of my favorite peices done by a full orchestra (Theme from The Legend of Zelda for instance...).

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2006-01-26 09:45am

I'd gladly pay to hear some of my favorite peices done by a full orchestra (Theme from The Legend of Zelda for instance...).

The Boston Pops did a great version of that one, and the Mario theme too. Truly majestic.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2006-01-26 09:45am

Well look at the last video on this page...

I am not sure if I should laguh or cry

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2006-01-26 09:50am

Faram wrote:Well look at the last video on this page...

I am not sure if I should laguh or cry

Laugh, just laugh and smile.
Even if their playing is off and their action kinda sucks. They put time and effort into that to make us laugh. So do just that.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-01-26 10:05am

A lot of game music today is done by professional artists. I own all the scores to the Metal Gear Solid series because the last two, at least, are done by Harry Gregson-Williams. The Resident Evil and Final Fantasy collections adorn my music folder too, because I have to say that music trumps many movies quite easily.

A lot of games offer great soundtracks that you may not even notice because it blends in so well, I found the music to HL2 to be great, or the tracks to every Wip3out game or Total Annihilation.

Only reason I haven't been to any of these concerts is because they don't fucking have them in this backwater.

Post by **Vympel** » 2006-01-26 10:15am

I'd go to a concert that had Morrowind music. Baldur's Gate and the Icewind Dale series should also make the cut.

Heck, Metal Gear Solid has funky beats. The rest though- meh.

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2006-01-26 01:47pm

Faram: that video was actually kinda hilarious

Yeah, thier playing was off, and the action sucked (I liked the Acapella choir version medley better personally) it was very funny, and I give them props for doing those songs with just a drum and thew xylaphone (sp?)