Montreal Video Game Symphony to be performed by the Orchestre Métropolitain for Montréal's 375th anniversary

Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

MONTREAL, June 9, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Orchestre Métropolitain, in collaboration with Alliance numérique, will present, in November 2017, the Montreal Video Game Symphony as part of Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations. The work will take the form of a multimedia show in which the orchestra's musicians will play music from landmark video games developed in Montreal.

Beginning today, Montreal video game companies are invited to submit the sound tracks from any of their games they would like to see included in the concert program. The final selection will be announced this fall.

"The Orchestre Métropolitain is proud to perform this major multimedia event that reflects the vitality of Montreal's video game industry," said Jean Dupré, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Orchestre Métropolitain. "For us, it is an opportunity to break down walls between art forms and present symphonic music in a new and highly stimulating context. That the Orchestre will also be spotlighting the creative talent of the video game companies that are an integral part of the identity of the city of Montreal only increases our pleasure."

The event will also have an interactive component: in synchrony with the orchestra, video game sequences will be projected on a big screen. At various points, individual members of the audience will be invited to come play a video game live on stage, adding a spontaneous dimension to the concert. Their performances will be projected on the big screen and simultaneously accompanied by the orchestra.

"Alliance numérique is pleased to support the Montreal Video Game Symphony project," said Catherine Émond, Director General of Alliance numérique, which represents Quebec's video game studios. "We are enthusiastic about the success of this spectacular initiative as part of Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations and encourage video game companies to take part by submitting their music. The project will provide great visibility for the know-how and creativity that are key to creating high-quality video games and that have made our industry famous."

The concert will be conducted by Dina Gilbert and will begin with an original work by video game composer Maxime Goulet, the initiator of the project. Composed specially and exclusively for the concert, this work will provide the musical theme for the Montreal Video Game Symphony.

To guide those attending from game to game, a master of ceremonies will interact with the audience and draw links between the various pieces played by the orchestra, describing the characteristics sought by the composers of the original pieces in the context of the projected game experience.

The Montreal Video Game Symphony offers video game companies with a studio in Montreal the opportunity to take part in this one-of-a-kind event by submitting game music for inclusion in the concert program. To do so, companies are encouraged to fill out the form on the Montreal Video Game Symphony website.

"This original and exclusive show is a striking example of the programming for Montreal's 375th anniversary," said Alain Gignac, General Manager of the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary. "The city's vitality will be celebrated through this melding of the power of a symphony orchestra with the immersive, interactive universe of video games. A memorable evening not to be missed,"

"Now this is the spirit of Montreal's 375th anniversary," enthused Montreal mayor Denis Coderre. "What a surprising and interesting initiative between the Orchestre Métropolitain and Alliance numérique! Montreal's video game companies are once again demonstrating their willingness to open their doors to citizens as well as their creative prowess and attachment to the city."

"The Quebec government is proud to support the Montreal Video Game Symphony," explained Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region. "By conceiving of this unique interactive concert, the Orchestre Métropolitain has confirmed that Montreal developers are able to innovate and to promote local musicians and creative artists. This special event will only add to our city's reputation as a world leader in the multimedia industry."

About the Orchestre Métropolitain
With a majority of its musicians born and trained in Quebec, the Orchestre Métropolitain is a world-class, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing classical music from here and abroad to all parts of the metropolitan Montreal community and its various cultural organizations. Since Yannick Nézet-Séguin became its Artistic Director in 2000, the Orchestre Métropolitain's reputation has continued to grow and expand in Montreal, in Quebec, in Canada and abroad.

About Alliance numérique
Since its founding in 2001, Alliance numérique has been the business network for Quebec's new media and interactive digital content industry. The Alliance has more than 100 members active in the video game and interactive digital entertainment sector. It supports their development by offering them a broad range of services and activities. It also creates opportunities for partnerships, meetings and discussions on the national and international stages with the aim of encouraging growth, competitiveness and promotion of the industry and always respecting all stakeholders. In addition, the Alliance acts as an industry representative to public authorities.

About Montreal's 375th anniversary
The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is a non-profit organization whose mission is to organize the socio-economic contributions and festivities marking the 375th anniversary of Montreal in 2017. With a focus on promoting Montreal expertise, it acts as a catalyst for different sectors in fulfilling its mandate: mobilizing the community, implementing a funding strategy, carefully managing the funds raised, developing high-quality programming and promoting the festivities. Driven by the desire to build bridges, it counts on the support of a board of directors, a council of governors and several committees. The Society receives financial support from the Ville de Montréal, Government of Québec and 10 Great Montrealers.

About Maxime Goulet, composer
Maxime Goulet has composed more than 25 video game sound tracks, including Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade, Roller Coaster Tycoon World, The Amazing Spider-Man, Dungeon Hunter-I, II, III, IV, Shrek Forever After, Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front and Brothers in Arms 3: Sons of War. He is also the creator of the Montreal Video Game Symphony. His classical music works, such as Symphonic Chocolates, have been played across Canada and in the United States, Europe and South America by  ensembles including the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Angèle Dubeau, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

About Dina Gilbert, conductor
Known for her energy, precision and versatility, Dina Gilbert enthusiastically embraces the symphonic repertoire while also focusing much attention on new music. Originally from the Beauce, Dana Gilbert is the founder and artistic director of the Ensemble Arkea, a Montreal-based chamber orchestra offering innovative interpretations of orchestral music. Together with this ensemble, she has frequently collaborated with young Canadian composers, premiering more than 30 works in addition to taking part in several recordings of film and video game music. Since April 2013, she has held the position of Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Maestro Kent Nagano. During the 2015-2016 season, Dana Gilbert conducted for the first time the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2016, she will make her debut with the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France and will conduct the world premiere of the screening of the film The Red Violin with a live orchestra and soloist Lara St. John at the Festival de Lanaudière.
www.dinagilbert.com

For more information about this project: sjvm.ca.

For more information about Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations: 375mtl.com. Find everything in our virtual pressroom : http://www.375mtl.com/en/making-the-375th/press-room/

SOURCE Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

Image with caption: "Maxime Goulet and Dina Gilbert. Credit : Nadia Zheng (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160609_C4767_PHOTO_EN_710198.jpg

Source - Orchestre Métropolitain: Laurie-Anne Riendeau, Public Relations Manager, T 514 598-0870, ext. 27, C 514 467-2320, [email protected]; Source - 375MTL: Isabelle Pelletier, 514 238-4178