PLAY! A Video Game Symphony

Description The first video game music symphony world tour, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony continues to perform symphonic music from various blockbuster video games across the globe. It comes from the producers and conductors responsible for the Dear Friends and European Symphonic Game Music Concerts and premiered in Chicago on May 27, 2006. Concerts occur in prestigious venues and feature performances from eminent orchestras and choirs. The tour features music from Final Fantasy, Mario, Zelda, Sonic, Kingdom Hearts, Silent Hill, Shenmue, Metal Gear Solid, World of Warcraft, Morrowind, HALO, Battlefield 1942 & 2, Chrono Trigger & Cross, and more. Concerts are made unique through the attendance of special guests and the inclusion of original items. FMVs from the games are projected to accompany the music. Read more about the tour in our interview with the team. Production Produced by Jason Michael Paul Executively produced by Thomas Boecker to September 30, 2006 Conducted by Arnie Roth and Andy Brick Hosted by Arnie Roth Official Recordings PLAY! A Video Game Symphony Live! Reviews Review of Chicago Premiere by Tim Review of Prague Recording Concert by CloudyMemory Official Website PLAY! A Video Game Symphony

Standard Set Listings

01) PLAY! A Video Game Symphony :: Fanfare :: Nobuo Uematsu
02) Final Fantasy VIII :: Liberi Fatali :: Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi
03) Super Mario Bros. :: Suite :: Koji Kondo
04) Shenmue :: Sedge Tree :: Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, Hayato Matsuo
05) Battlefield 1942 & Battlefield 2 :: Suite :: Joel Eriksson, David Tallroth, Fredrik Englund, Jonas Östholm, Bence Pajor
06) Final Fantasy VII :: Aerith's Theme :: Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi
07) Sonic the Hedgehog :: Suite :: Masato Nakamura, Yuzo Koshiro
08) Metal Gear Solid :: Main Theme :: Tappi Iwase, Kazuki Muraoka
09) Kingdom Hearts :: Suite :: Yoko Shimomura, Utada Hikaru

Intermission

10) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind :: Suite :: Jeremy Soule
11) Final Fantasy X :: Swing de Chocobo :: Nobuo Uematsu, Arnie Roth
12) Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross :: Suite :: Yasunori Mitsuda
13) World of Warcraft :: Suite :: Jason Hayes
14) Silent Hill 2 :: Theme of Laura :: Akira Yamaoka
15) HALO :: Suite :: Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori
16) The Legend of Zelda :: Suite :: Koji Kondo

Encore

17) Final Fantasy VII :: One Winged Angel :: Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi (May Play Twice)

Concert Listings

Chicago, IL - May 27, 2006

Occurred at the Rosemont Theatre. Performance by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were Angela Aki's performances of Nobuo Uematsu's "Kiss Me Good-Bye" (FFXII) and "Eyes on Me" (FFVIII), the premiere of music from Nobuo Uematsu's Blue Dragon score, music from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Jeremy Soule), and Koji Kondo's piano performance of music from New Super Mario Bros.

Special artists included Rony Barrak (percussionist), Akira Yamaoka (guitarist), and Koji Kondo (pianist). The special guests were Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, Koji Kondo, Yuzo Koshiro, Jeremy Soule, Akira Yamaoka, Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Takenobu Mitsuyoshi, and Jason Hayes. For an extra price, concert attendees could 'meet and greet' them, Arnie Roth, Rony Barrak, and Angela Aki.

Stockholm, Sweden - June 14, 2006

Occurred at the Stockholm Concert Hall (Konserthuset). Performance by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were music from The Chronicles of Riddick (Gustaf Grefberg), Apidya (Chris Huelsbeck), and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu). Rony Barrak (percussionist) was a special artist. Special guests were Nobuo Uematsu, Chris Huelsbeck, Gustaf Grefberg, and Bence Pajor. An unofficial 'meet and greet' with these composers, Arnie Roth, and Rony Barrak was available.

Detroit, MI - July 12, 2006

Occurred at the Orchestra Hall. Performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were music from Shadow of the Colossus (Ko Otani) and Stella Deus (Hitoshi Sakimoto). Due to time restrictions, the Chrono suite and "Aerith's Theme" were controversially cut. Special guests were Yoko Shimomura, Hitoshi Sakimoto, and Michael Salvatori. For an extra price, concert attendees could 'meet and greet' them and Arnie Roth. No special artists were featured.

Philadelphia, PA - July 27, 2006

Occurred at The Mann Center. Performance by the Mann Festival Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were music from Prey (Jeremy Soule) and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu). No special guests or artists were featured.

Vienna, VA - August 4, 2006

Occurred at the Wolf Trap Filene Center. Performance by the National Symphony Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were music from Prey (Jeremy Soule) and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu). No special guests or artists were featured.

Toronto, Canada - September 30, 2006

Occurred at The Hummingbird Centre. Performance by the Local Toronto Orchestra and chorus.

Special items were music from the Castlevania series (to become part of the main program), B.L.A.C.K (Michael Giacchino and Chris Tilton), and Prey and Oblivion (Jeremy Soule). A surprise vocal performance from Takenobu Mitsuyoshi of "Let's Go Away" from Daytona USA was also featured. Blue Dragon from Nobuo Uematsu) was once again used an encore. The Battlefield and Morrowind suites were omitted.

Special guests were Nobuo Uematsu, Jeremy Soule, and Takenobu Mitsuyoshi. Special artists were Takenobu Mitsuyoshi (vocalist) and Rony Barrak (percussionist). An unofficial 'meet and greet' with these composers and Arnie Roth was available.

Hartford, CT - March 29, 2007

Concert was quietly cancelled due to competition with the antagonistic Video Games Live.

San Jose, CA - May 26, 2007

Occurred at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Performance by the Symphony Silicon Valley and choir.

Special items were music from The Darkness (Gustaf Grefberg), Lair (John Debney), Oblivio, (Jeremy Soule) and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu). No special guests or artists were featured.

Stockholm, Sweden - June 2, 2007

Occurred at the Stockholm Concert Hall (Konserthuset). Performance by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus. There were two performances — one at 3 PM and one at 7:30 PM.

Special items were a Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga medley, Final Fantasy VI's "Dancing Mad", Lost Odyssey (Nobuo Uematsu), ANNO 1701 (Tilman Sillescu), Shadow of the Colossus (Ko Otani), Oblivion (Jeremy Soule), Castlevania (Michiru Yamane), The Revenge of Shinobi (Yuzo Koshiro), and The Darkness (Gustaf Grefberg)..

Special guests were Akira Yamaoka and Gustaf Grefberg. Special artists were Akira Yamaoka (guitarist) and the rock band Machinae Supremacy.

Singapore - June 15/16, 2007

Occurred at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Performamce by the Singapore Festival Orchestra and combined choir of the Vocal Consort and National University of Singapore Choir. There were three performances — June 15 at 7:30 PM, June 16 at 2:30 PM, and June 16 at 7:30 PM.

Special items were Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu), Final Fantasy VI's "Dancing Mad", Daytona USA's "Let's Go Away" (Takenobu Mitsuyoshi), Oblivion (Jeremy Soule), Castlevania (Michiru Yamane), and The Revenge of Shinobi (Yuzo Koshiro).

Special guests were Yuzo Koshiro and Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.

Sydney, Australia - June 19 - 23, 2007

Occurred at the Sydney Opera House. Performance by the Sydney Symphony and Cantillation. There were performances on each of the five days at 7 PM.

Special items were Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon (Nobuo Uematsu), Final Fantasy VI's "Dancing Mad", Oblivion (Jeremy Soule), and Castlevania (Michiru Yamane). There were no special guests or artists.

Oslo, Norway - October 26, 2007

Occurred at the Electroworld Exhibition at Norges Varemesse. Performance by the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra and Choir.

Special items were Dreamfall (Leon Willett), Oblivion (Jeremy Soule), Castlevania (Michiru Yamane), and Metallica's One from Guitar Hero.

Special artists were Ingvild Hasund (vocalist), �ystein Fevang (vocalists), and the rock band Machinae Supremacy.

Fort Worth, TX - January 19 & 20, 2008

Occurred at the Bass Performance Hall. Performance by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Choir. There were performances on both days at 8 PM. No special items or guests were announced.

Seattle, WA - January 24 & 26, 2008

Occurred at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium. Performance by the Seattle Symphony and Choir. There were two performances — January 24 at 7:30 PM and January 26 at 1 PM.

Special guests are Martin O'Donnell and Jeremy Soule.

Prague, Czech Republic - April 23, 2008

Occurred at the Rudolfinum. Performance by the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Kuehn's Choir. There were two performances — a rehersal performance at 5 PM and a recording concert at 8 PM.

Special items were Super Mario Galaxy's "Gusty Garden Galaxy" (Mahito Yokota & Koji Kondo). Special artists were Rony Barrak (percussion).