The Legend of Zelda Symphony: An 80s Video Game Becomes High Art

The Legend of Zelda, an adventure game centered on a pixie-like boy named Link who is tasked with rescuing a princess from a well-guarded castle, first appeared in the United States in 1987 on the original Nintendo gaming system. Since then it has become one of Nintendo’s most popular game series, spawning numerous game sequels across all of Nintendo’s gaming systems. In addition to complex adventure game play, the Zelda series has spawned some very good instrumental music, featuring orchestral arrangements, complex classical guitar solos and ocarina pieces that players can play along with by using the buttons on their game controllers. Now, the music from the Legend of Zelda series is being performed as a symphony concert that is touring North America, South America and Europe throughout 2016.

The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses is a four movement symphony that is believed to be the first ever video game music concert of a classical nature. This is no pop concert. The concert's music was composed by Koji Kondo, who has also composed music for Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. game series. Titles featured in the Zelda concert program will be familiar to players of the game, and they include:

• Gerudo Valley
• The Great Fairy’s Fountain
• Boss Battle Medley
• The Ocarina of Time
• The Wind Waker
• Suite from Majora’s Mask

The music is taken from several Zelda games and sequels, but those who are not familiar with the games need not worry: The excellent compositions and professionalism of the musicians should delight any fan of symphony orchestra. 

The 2016 tour began in Nashville and will move to several major U.S. cities including Boston, Miami, San Antonio, San Francisco and Chicago. Canadian cities that will host the symphony concert include Montreal, Edmonton and Toronto, and the concert will play in the European cities of London, Paris and Vienna, among others. Dates in Mexico and Chile are also on the 2016 schedule.

Hollywood Bowl Home of Hundreds of Musical Concerts and Events Each Season

 

Set in front of the Hollywood Hills and just southeast of the iconic Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Bowl is the perfect venue for outdoor music in Southern California. The Hollywood Bowl is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the United States. Thousands of visitors enjoy listening to a variety of bands and performance artists throughout the season. The venue is especially popular in the summer months, where family and friends gather together to enjoy music under the stars.

Construction of the Hollywood Bowl began in the 1920s when a distinctive shell was designed for the outdoor amphitheater. The arches that were designed for the shell in 1929 remained in place until 2003 when they were replaced with a larger version. The Hollywood Bowl gets its name from the concave hillside where the shell was built. The Hollywood Bowl museum is available for visitors who want to learn more about its history.

 
The Hollywood Bowl is home to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and seasonally houses the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Other popular past performance artists include:

• Elton John
• Janet Jackson
• Judy Garland
• The Beatles
• Journey
• The Beach Boys
• Alicia Keys

Hundreds of musical performances, jazz concerts, classical musicians, family sing-a-longs and more are featured at the venue each year. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are designated for classical concerts, bringing a variety of music fans to the amphitheater.

Seating is divided into three separate sections:

• Box Seats, canvas-covered collapsible chairs closest to the stage
• Super Seats, stadium-style seats made of plastic and located in the center of the theater
• Bench Seats, benches that extend to the back of the theater

Large screens set on both sides of the stage ensure that the show is easily in-view no matter where guests are seated.

Though people of all ages are invited to the theater, some shows are only suitable for older children and adults. No specific dress code is required. Food and drink can be brought into the theater and enjoyed during the show; however, several restaurants and concession stands are available throughout the Hollywood Bowl for those who wish to purchase food. Some concerts limit the type of food or drink that is allowed to be brought in, so always check in advance before packing food.

No matter the music preference, the Hollywood Bowl has an artist or performance for everyone to enjoy while enjoying the warm, summer weather of Southern California.

The History of Red Rocks Amphitheatre

If you want to listen to a concert, singer or speaker at an interesting venue, then the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the perfect place to visit. Located in Morrison, Colo., this open-air amphitheater is only 10 miles from Denver. Over 9,000 individuals are able to sit in this rock structure that is located in Red Rocks Park. This venue is owned and operated by both the city and county of Denver and opened in the early 1900s after John Brisben Walker noticed how perfect the acoustics were in the location. The actual foundation of the stage was created during the 1930s and 1940s by workers from the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps that were part of two federal programs. 

Who Has Performed at This Natural Formation Venue? 

Mary Garden made this venue known worldwide with her operatic performance in 1906. Since then, several musical artists and groups have help performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, including:

• Liberace - 1954
• The Beatles – 1964
• Jimi Hendrix - 1968
• Jethro Tull – 1971
• Stevie Nicks – 1987
• Ringo Starr – 2000
• John Denver 
• Sonny & Cher 
• The Carpenters 
• Pat Boone 
• Seals & Croft 
• Carole King 
• U2 – 1983
• The Moody Blues – 1992

There are Year-Round Performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Not only have many performers and musical groups had live shows at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but also, they have recorded live performances because the location has perfect natural acoustics. The beauty of this natural venue has also led to it being a film and television location. In addition, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame opened at the Trading Post located near the venue. Despite being an outdoor venue, there are activities at Red Rock Amphitheatre year-round, including speakers, concerts and book signings.

Traveling to the Venue for Performances 

Visitors wanting to see a concert or speaker at Red Rocks Amphitheatre can drive along a highway to the entrance to park in a security-controlled parking lot. Parking outside the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is limited and regulated, and many visitors choose to travel with taxicabs, limousines or buses instead.

Visit Gillette Stadium to Attend a Game or Concert

 

When you want to watch a soccer or football game, the Gillette Stadium is an excellent place to visit. This venue is located in Foxborough, Mass., near to Boston and Providence, R.I., making it easy to find travel accommodations. Sport enthusiasts are able to watch the New England Patriots play football or a New England Revolution soccer game. The University of Massachusetts also uses Gillette Stadium for its home football games. There is a good chance that there is a ticket available for a professional or college game because this stadium has nearly 70,000 seats, and you can choose between regular seating, luxury suites or club seats. An individual can also become a Patriots or Revolution season member at Gillette Stadium to receive fast access to soccer and football tickets, but other individuals may need to buy their tickets from online professional ticket sellers.

The History of Gillette Stadium 

Construction of Gillette Stadium began in 2000, but the stadium was originally known as CMGI Field before it was purchased by Gillette. Eventually, Gillette was sold to Procter & Gamble, but the name of this stadium remains the same. In addition to sport activities, the stadium has been used as a concert venue for musical groups such as The Rolling Stones and musicians such as Kenny Chesney. New England Patriot football games are popular with sport fans, and the tickets are sold quickly. In the past, sport enthusiasts have also been able to watch lacrosse games, and in 2016, the AMA Super Cross Championships will begin having its indoor dirt bike racing games at this venue. 

Transportation and Security at Gillette Stadium

It is possible to travel to the stadium’s parking lot using a local railway or highway system, and information about parking vehicles is available at the Gillette Stadium’s website. There are also security regulations for many of the concerts and games, and you need to understand the guidelines of when bringing in bags of items, before you attend a game or concert.