Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Performs Soundtrack to Video Game Favorites in PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, July 18

Production includes full chorus and video game display

Baltimore, Md. (June 20, 2008)—The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will present the hit concert production PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, Friday, July 18 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Performed by the BSO and the Handel Choir of Baltimore, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony features award-winning music from a catalogue of blockbuster video games, including classics such as Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Legend of Zelda and more. Outstanding gaming graphics on large screens above the orchestra accompany the scores, highlighting memorable scenes from classic video games. See below for complete program information.

“This spectacular concert attracts people of all generations to some of the world’s greatest concert halls,” says Maestro Arnie Roth, Principal Conductor and Music Director of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony.

Arnie Roth, conductor
Arnie Roth, Grammy Award-winning artist and long time member of Mannheim Steamroller, has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Philharmonic, the Dallas Symphony, the Houston Symphony, and the BBC Symphony. Mr. Roth served as the music director and conductor for Dear Friends, and More Friends Concerts: Music from FINAL FANTASY.

Mr. Roth has produced and conducted music for many films, and has produced dozens of best-selling CDs, released on American Gramaphone, JVC, Mattel, Warner Bros., Sony, Koch, and Razor & Tie. He is the recipient of the award for Best Score at the 2003 DVD Premier Awards for his score for the film Barbie as Rapunzel.

About the Handel Choir of Baltimore
The Handel Choir of Baltimore is an oratorio society of 46 auditioned singers with a 74-year history of performing choral and choral-orchestral repertory. The Handel Choir takes pride in presenting a wide range of music, from classical to modern compositions, and performing in venues throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area.

With the arrival in 2004 of artistic director and conductor Melinda O’Neal, the Handel Choir refocused its perspective to include performance of baroque, classical and early-romantic music with an orchestra of historic instruments. While the Choir remains committed to performing in a variety of historical styles and genres, the organization performs 19th-21st century music as well. Repertoire during this concert season includes music of Fauré, Bernstein, Poulenc and Berlioz. A commissioning project is underway for a new work to celebrate the Choir's 75th anniversary in 2010.

COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION
BSO Summer Nights: PLAY! A Video Game Symphony
Friday, July 18, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.—Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Handel Choir of Baltimore
Arnie Roth, conductor

BSO Summer Nights at the Meyerhoff is sponsored by Citi, with media sponsorship from WBAL 1090 AM.

Tickets range from $30 to $60 and are available through the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000, 877.BSO.1444 or BSOmusic.org.

###