Following an international tour, “The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses” returns to Salt Lake City Dec. 4 at Abravanel Hall.

Based on the music from the popular Nintendo franchise, the four-movement symphony was last seen in Utah in October 2015.

“The Legend of Zelda” follows the adventures of a young hero named Link in his attempts to rescue Princess Zelda in the land of Hyrule. In its 30-year history, the franchise has generated 18 games with a 19th to be released in 2017.

Jason Michael Paul, executive producer of the show, said he and a few other producers created the symphony in 2010 at the request of Nintendo. Paul had previous experience with music concerts, including a concert based on the "Final Fantasy" video game franchise.

“I thought that it could be as big as 'Final Fantasy' if I presented it in a concert setting, and when I was given the opportunity, that was what I set out to do,” Paul said. “Now, here we are, and we’ve done almost 300 shows worldwide.”

The symphony incorporates pieces from numerous games under the umbrella of the Zelda franchise and features large-screen image and video projections of the games throughout the performance.

“I’m grateful that this is the project I can really be the most proud of,” Paul said. “I go to these shows and I’m just overjoyed to see the reactions and the excitement from the fans. It’s really what keeps it going for me, seeing the fans enjoying what we’ve created.”

Unlike a traditional musical tour, the Zelda symphony recruits local orchestras, symphonies or musicians at every stop.

“The day of the show, we have a three-hour rehearsal, a two-hour break, and then the performance, so you have very little time to put it all together,” said Amy Andersson, music director and conductor for the show. “That keeps it very fresh. After almost two years, I’m not tired of it at all.”

View Comments

Andersson believes, at its core, there is no difference between music written for a video game or a more traditional symphony.

“It’s a huge gift to the symphonic repertoire,” Andersson said. “We’re filling up concert halls and venues that are sometimes only half full, and the crowds are going wild. The orchestras feel that, and they know that this is a very important part of the future for symphony orchestras.”

Utah will be one of the last stops of the year for the Zelda Symphony.

“We’ve had a very active, wonderful tour season, and we’re looking forward to coming back to Abravanel Hall,” Andersson said. “Coming back to Salt Lake City is a great way to finish out the year.”

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.