Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 2, 2007|Volume 35, Number 20

Video Games Live™ to perform
with Yale Symphony Orchestra

Following sold-out shows around the world, Video Games Live™ -- a multi-media event celebrating the music of video games -- will be presented at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, in Woolsey Hall, corner of College and Grove streets.

Video Games Live™ is a concert event put on by the video game industry to help encourage and support the culture and art that video games have become. It seeks to expose new generations of music lovers and fans to the symphonic orchestral experience while also providing a unique experience for families and/or non-gamers.

The concert event was created by two industry-leading video game composers, Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, and produced under their company, Mystical Stone Entertainment LLC. The debut performance was launched on July 6, 2005, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic. With more than 11,000 people in attendance, it was the largest video game concert in the world.

The Woolsey Hall concert will feature music performed by the Yale Symphony Orchestra and a full choir, which will be synchronized with video footage, lighting, solo performers, electronic percussion, live action and interactive segments that create an explosive entertainment experience.

This is the first time Video Games Live™ will perform with college musical ensembles.

"It's a dream come true to be performing with the Yale Symphony," says leading game composer and Video Games Live™ co-creator Tommy Tallarico. "What an amazing privilege and honor for the video game industry to be a part of such a historical and prestigious establishment."

Brian Robinson, Yale Symphony managing director, added, "The excitement level among the student musicians has been overwhelming. There is a real connection to this music that is helping to introduce a whole new generation of people to symphonic performance."

Special events surrounding the show include an all day pre-show festival in Yale Commons dining hall with interactive game demos and competitions, a costume contest, pre-released game demos and a chance to meet top game composers and designers. On Friday, March 30, game luminaries will be on campus discussing different aspects of game development with students. Times and locations will be announced.

Special segments involving the audience will take place during the show, including a live interactive Space Invaders game and a Frogger competition. New music and exclusive video has been added to the line-up of games, including Mario™, Zelda®, Halo®, Metal Gear Solid®, World of Warcraft®, MYST®, Final Fantasy® and Kingdom Hearts®.

The evening also includes the exclusive Halo 3® announcement trailer score. There will be a "Classic Arcade Medley" featuring music from Pong®, Donkey Kong®, Dragon's Lair®, Tetris®, Gauntlet®, Space Invaders® and Outrun®.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Tickets are available online at: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=SHUBERT_CAPA&pid=5903950.

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