The Austin Symphony Orchestra Performs Music From Blockbuster Video Games

At first glance, World of Warcraft and an evening at the symphony might not seem like a natural pairing. However, guest conductor Andy Brick is confident that attendees of the Austin Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concert on Friday, January 24th (tickets), will find this fusion of video game scores and orchestral performance nothing short of extraordinary.

Brick, who has guest conducted many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and has been featured in the New York Times for his boundary-shattering integration of these two art forms, will conduct a performance of Game On! at the Long Center, which critics describe as “a night you won’t forget” and worthy of the “thunderous ovations generally reserved for rock stars.”

The performance will include scores from popular video games including “The Witcher 3, World of Warcraft, Ori, The Elder Scrolls, Assassin‘s Creed, and Guild Wars 2.” As the music unfolds, attendees will see “never before seen high definition video” from the games. To make the experience even more immersive, attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite video game character.

Social Stimulus caught up with Andy to talk about video games, symphonic music, and how the combination of these elements can reignite a new passion for the symphony orchestra among longtime viewers while drawing in audiences who are brand new to the artform.

Brick On Younger Generations Tuning-In:

“What’s fascinating is that about two years ago, the BBC conducted a poll revealing that Gen Y and Gen Z are actually more likely to attend an orchestra concert than their parents. That shift is profound and, I think, incredibly important.

Symphonic game music already plays a significant role in the lives of these generations; it’s part of their musical identification. So, it’s not so much about introducing them to the music itself. Instead, Game On! becomes a gateway to the extraordinary experience of hearing orchestral music performed live by 110 of the world’s finest musicians.”

Related:  

• The BBC on “Gen Z and young millennials' surprising obsession”: People “under 35-year-old are more likely to listen to orchestral music than their parents, but also [there is a] widespread surge in popularity of classical music in general, particularly among younger generations.”
• Stateside: Last year, a research firm based out of the University of Chicago conducted audience research of the symphony’s classical music cousin, the opera, to investigate “record levels of first-time ticket buyers reported by opera companies since the pandemic.” After surveying nearly 200,000 attendees, the firm found that these first-time ticket-buyers tend to be both “younger” and “more diverse.”

Andy On Video Games As An Art Form:

“What sets video games apart from other art forms and perhaps why it’s underrated, or even misunderstood by some as an art form, is that it has an interactive element. The game’s audience is a part of the art form.

That interaction creates a very deep visceral connection to the music and art in the game. World of Warcraft, the wise elder of RPGs, is a wonderful example. The music catalog of that franchise is amazing, extensive and at a quality level that I believe deserves a place on the world’s orchestral concert stages.”

Andy On How The Austin Symphony’s Performance Of Game On! Helps To Elevate The Perception Of Games And Game Music:

“When a world-class orchestra like the Austin Symphony presents a music program, there is a recognition that the program is, in some way, important to the lexicon of orchestral music.  Often that importance is a recognition of the extraordinary way the music has captured the audience.”

Andy On How The Show Personalizes The Evolving Narrative Of The Game In An Orchestra Concert:

“We found the answer through video. Now it’s not just that we have never-before-seen HD video of the game on a huge screen behind the orchestra.  It’s a little deeper than that.  

Through  a very careful collaboration with the game developers, each game’s video in the concert presents a new independent story based on the characters, gameplay and visual media within the game. For example, we are going to premiere Civilization VI in our concert with the Austin Symphony. Fans of the game will recognize the two protagonists in our video. These two characters reappear throughout the series. However, for those that do not know the game or may not be gamers, we have built a new heart warming story of the struggle of mankind and the compassion of humanity using these two characters and the environments within the game.  It’s a story that, at once, will capture those familiar and unfamiliar with the Civilization series.  

Our goal is to create an experience as varied and immersive as the gaming worlds themselves—a celebration of their artistry, emotion, and connection.”

Andy On Any Gamers Among The Symphony Orchestra:

“With 70% of American households playing games, I have to believe there will be a gamer or two in the orchestra.”

‍