Perth Voice Interactive

THE games console is set to mingle with the cello at Perth concert hall.

As part of the 2014 Perth festival, the WA symphony orchestra will play music from famous video games as they are projected onto a huge screen in the background.

The recital will include music from BioShock one, two and infinite; Grim Fandango; Uncharted two and three; and Journey.

The video game cross-over is part of a push from WASO to attract a younger audience to live classical music.

The orchestra has previously performed live scores to movies, including Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, but this is the first time it has accompanied video games.

WASO bassoonist Adam Mikulicz, 30, says as long as the music has integrity, members of the orchestra aren’t overly concerned about its origins.

“The cross-over concerts are extremely popular and both Lord of the Rings shows sold out,” he told the Voice.

“That soundtrack was extremely intricate and used every ounce of the orchestra, including a children’s chorus.

“Attracting people to classical music who wouldn’t normally go is a good thing, as far as I’m concerned, it’s good to play a different type of audience.”

The concert will also have an interactive section, where sounds and noises submitted by the public leading up to the event are incorporated into a live WASO performance.

The event is the brainchild of Tod Machover—composer and professor at MIT’s Media Lab—whose students went on to create the hit console game Guitar Hero.

The concert will be conducted by Carolyn Kuan.

Between the desert and the deep blue sea is at the Perth concert hall on March 1.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK