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| Video Games Live | |
|---|---|
| Name | Video Games Live |
| Founder | Tommy Tallarico |
| Conductor | Jack Wall |
| Premiere | 2002 |
| Genre | Video game music concert |
Video Games Live is a concert production that presents orchestral performances of music from Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Halo, and other video game franchises combined with multimedia, synchronized lighting, and audience participation. Conceived to celebrate the work of composers, performers, and developers, the project has featured collaborations with orchestras, choirs, and soloists tied to franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania, and Kingdom Hearts. It has toured internationally, appearing at festivals, arenas, and convention centers connected to events like E3, PAX, and the Tokyo Game Show.
Video Games Live stages orchestral suites and arrangements drawn from franchises including Chrono Trigger, Street Fighter, Mega Man, The Elder Scrolls, Mass Effect, and Portal. Performances blend music by composers such as Nobuo Uematsu, Koji Kondo, Jeremy Soule, Marty O'Donnell, Hayden Chisholm and Grant Kirkhope with visual elements referencing studios and publishers like Nintendo, Square Enix, Capcom, Blizzard Entertainment, and Microsoft Game Studios. The production frequently features guest appearances by composers and performers associated with series from Konami and Sega. Touring shows have been mounted with ensembles from institutions such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The concept was created in the late 1990s and formally launched in the early 2000s by producer Tommy Tallarico, following trends in concert events that celebrated media scores like those for Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. Early development involved partnerships with conventions including San Diego Comic-Con and expos such as Gamescom, and with composers tied to studios like Naughty Dog, Bethesda Softworks, and Rockstar Games. The show expanded through collaborations with promoters including Live Nation and orchestras affiliated with venues like Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Carnegie Hall. Over time, conductors and arrangers from institutions such as Berklee College of Music and Juilliard School contributed to orchestration and program design.
A typical concert features an orchestra, choir, solo instrumentalists, and guest vocalists from franchises associated with publishers like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Multimedia projections display gameplay footage and artwork from titles by developers such as FromSoftware, Irrational Games, BioWare, and Valve Corporation. Lighting and pyrotechnics are coordinated with cues used in productions at venues such as Madison Square Garden and Staples Center. Interactive segments invite audience participation through sing-alongs, cosplay showcases tied to Comic-Con International, and trivia contests referencing awards like the Game Developers Choice Awards.
Arrangements span orchestral transcriptions of themes from Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Diablo, and Donkey Kong Country to choral settings of music from Persona and Kingdom Hearts. The repertoire often includes medleys and suites honoring composers such as Yuzo Koshiro, Akira Yamaoka, Hiroki Kikuta, and Yasunori Mitsuda. Orchestrations have been created by arrangers who have worked with institutions like BBC Symphony Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera, and adaptations sometimes incorporate motifs from franchises like Tomb Raider and Assassin's Creed.
Touring has taken the production to continents and venues associated with cultural institutions such as Tokyo Dome, The O2 Arena, Wembley Arena, and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Notable concerts include performances at major events like E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), BlizzCon, and PAX East, as well as special galas at festivals including SXSW and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The show has collaborated with orchestras in cities including London, Los Angeles, Sydney, Seoul, Berlin, Milan, and Toronto.
Critics from publications covering music and entertainment—ranging from reviewers with ties to The Guardian and The New York Times—have noted the production's role in legitimizing music from franchises such as Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, and Halo within concert halls. The production has been discussed in academic contexts alongside studies by scholars affiliated with Oxford University, University of Cambridge, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology concerning media, performance, and popular culture. Video game composers and industry figures from companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment America and Nintendo of America have cited the concerts as increasing public recognition of game scoring.
Recordings of performances and studio albums featuring orchestrations have been released on labels connected to distributors who handle soundtrack releases for franchises like Square Enix Music and Materia Collective. Broadcasts and streamed events have been presented via platforms associated with Twitch, YouTube, and broadcasters that cover events like BBC Proms. Merchandise and soundtrack albums have included liner notes referencing composers such as Nobuo Uematsu, Koji Kondo, and Marty O'Donnell and have been sold through outlets linked to conventions like PAX and Gamescom.
Category:Concerts