By a show of hands, nearly a third of the audience at the sold-out performance of Howard Shore's "Lord of the Rings Symphony" at the Tucson Music Hall in 2008 had never been to a symphony concert before that night.
Ask the question this weekend, when the Tucson Symphony Orchestra mounts the multimedia "Video Games Live," and there could be even more hands.
The numbers of newly converted - people drawn to the symphony by a bunch of hobbits and balrogs, Bugs Bunny or high-flying cirque artists - may be even higher.
"Video Games Live" draws its playlist from the soundtrack of today's best-known video games. And that music is deeply rooted in classical music, says "Video Games Live" co-creator Tommy Tallarico.
"Video-game music leans more toward classical than anything. Most of it these days is orchestral and symphonic in nature," said Tallarico, who is credited as being the first video-game composer. "I've always said if Beethoven was alive today, he would have been a video-game composer."
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"Video Games Live" is the latest in a string of concerts the TSO has brought in to attract nontraditional symphony audiences.
Both the "Classical Mystery Tour" Beatles tribute in 2005 and the Beatles encore, "Beatlemania 2: Classical Mystery Tour" two years later sold out.
"Even Art Garfunkel (in January) brought people in who had never been to the symphony before," said TSO Marketing Director Sue DeBenedette. "It's about looking outside the box. It's programming events like this that open the doors and is an entryway for new audiences of all ages."
In an age when symphony audiences worldwide are shrinking and those attending tend to skew on the older side, orchestras are looking for creative ways to bring in new and younger audiences.
"I think orchestras like having us because what they're investing in is the future audience that they're pulling from their community," said Laurie Robinson, a Tucson native and composer who has worked with "Video Games Live" since its first concert in July 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl. "Now you have these 10-year-olds who know what the Tucson Music Hall is and what the TSO sounds like."
Tallarico said audiences throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia have skewed younger, a trend he expects will continue in Tucson.
"If you think about it, no time in music history . . . were young people by the tens of thousands coming out to see symphonic music," he said. "Half of our audience is probably under 25. It really has an effect, and with the symphony as well."
"It really is an entry path for gamers and young adults, and even older adults that are gamers," added DeBenedette. "There's a lot of people that grew up with (video games) that have never connected the fact that the music that is now very sophisticated in video games is based on classical music and pop music. Sometimes they don't connect that the music is created in a studio, on a stage with live instruments. I think this is a great opportunity for the symphony."
Robinson said the TSO will experience another sensation it probably has experienced very few times: rock-star adulation.
"The crowds actually get as rowdy as rock concerts; it's a scream," Robinson said. "The first time it happens to an orchestra, they freak out. I swear, they get standing ovations - from kids. From teenagers. It's unheard-of."
If you go
• What: "Video Games Live," with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the TSO Chorus.
• Guest conductor: Jack Wall.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
• Tickets: $22-$67 through www.tucsonsymphony.org or by calling 882-8585.
Music and games
"Video Games Live" is an international touring show that brings the music of video games to life. Touring singers will join the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and its chorus to perform the music from top video games, including "Zelda," "Halo," "Final Fantasy," "Warcraft," "StarCraft," "Tomb Raider," "Pac-Man," "Gears of War" and "Harry Potter." The audience also will get to watch scenes from those video games.
• Get there early: Try your luck in a "Guitar Hero" contest in the Music Hall lobby before the concert. The winner will play the game onstage during the concert.
Dress code
• Musicians: The orchestra and chorus will wear black casual attire instead of their formal tuxes and gowns.
• The audience: Jeans and T-shirts are fine. Or dress like your favorite video game character.
Symphony goes pop
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has hosted several pop-culture shows in recent years to draw younger audiences. All sold out:
• "Classical Mystery Tour" Beatles tribute, 2005.
• "Beatlemania 2: Classical Mystery Tour," 2007.
• "Lord of the Rings Symphony," 2008.
• "Bugs Bunny on Broadway," 2009.
• "Cirque de la Symphonie," Jan. 29-31.
Coming next season:
• "Oz With Orchestra," Jan. 22-23.
• "Take It to the Limit: The Music of the Eagles," Feb. 12.
'Star Wars: in Concert'
Tickets go on sale Saturday for "Star Wars: In Concert," a multimedia symphony concert that revisits John Williams' six epic "Star Wars" scores. The concert features an orchestra, choir, narrator and exhibits of "Star Wars" props. The concert hits Tucson Arena May 26. Tickets cost $25 to $75 at www.ticketmaster.com
