5 minutes with…

Although “video-game symphonies” might rankle some classical musicians, conductor Arnie Roth embraces them. His orchestra, the Chicagoland Pops, first performed selections from Nintendo’s juggernaut series Final Fantasy in February 2005. Now Roth will hold the baton for Play! A Video Game Symphony, featuring music from blockbuster games like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros., at its North American premiere on Saturday 27.

Can a symphony make splatter sounds and monster grunts?
Yeah, they can do some of that stuff. I don’t want to blow the surprises, but you’re going to have all sorts of live percussion effects that you wouldn’t have suspected.

What kind of audience attends these concerts?
I’ve done a whole bunch of Final Fantasy symphony shows in the U.S. and Japan. In both countries, the audiences were so attentive, from 13 or 14 years old, up to 50 or so. Many of them have never been to a symphony concert in the halls of their home cities. It was the best of both worlds: no fidgeting around or coughing like classical audiences do, and no getting up in the middle of a piece to buy a beer like a rock audience would.

Okay, Arnie, the big test: You can conduct their music, but can you tell the Mario Bros. apart?
[Chuckles] Don’t ask me to do that. I have my hands full just putting all this together musically.—Web Behrens

Play! is Saturday 27.