The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses


The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses was a concert tour featuring music from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series. Jason Michael Paul Productions, who was licensed by Nintendo to produce and tour the show, hired Jeron Moore to produce the show as well as Composer Chad Seiter to create the music. The tour is named after the Golden Goddesses in the Zelda series.
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Music

The name "Symphony of the Goddesses" refers not only to the concert program but also to the four-movement symphony recounting the storylines from several games in The Legend of Zelda series: A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and The Wind Waker. The concert also highlighted orchestral renditions of music from other series games, including Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, Spirit Tracks, Skyward Sword, and Tri Force Heroes.
Conductors of the concerts have included Eímear Noone, Susie Seiter, Amy Andersson. Kelly Corcoran, Kevin Zakresky and Jessica Gethin.

History

In June 2011, at Nintendo's Electronic Entertainment Expo press event, Jason Michael Paul Productions hired composer Chad Seiter and Producer Jeron Moore to create a four-minute overture spanning 25 years of Zelda music accompanied by images from the same period. After this performance, Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo announced that an orchestral CD would accompany the release of Skyward Sword, also produced by Jason Michael Paul Productions with Composer Chad Seiter and recorded by Hollywood recording engineer Bruce Botnick. A 25th Anniversary concert series would be performed in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and London. All of the concerts were produced by Jason Michael Paul Productions.
Evolving from the 25th anniversary concert series, "The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses" concert series kicked off in January 2012 in Dallas, and toured the U.S. and Canada.
The second season, known as "Second Quest" consisted of concerts in spring, summer, and fall of 2013. The show went on hiatus after its final "Second Quest" performance in San Jose, California, at the San Jose Civic, performed by the Skywalker Ranch Orchestra.
The third season, known as "Master Quest", consisted of worldwide concerts in 2015 and 2016 and achieved the most success of any of the Zelda Symphony tours traveling to over 150 cities. This continued as the production further iterated until its tour concluded in 2018.

Schedule

Original season

The San Francisco event in March 2012 included over 1000 attendees. The Los Angeles concert in June featured Zelda Williams as the emcee. She was named after Princess Zelda, the video game series' titular character. A concert was held in May in Atlanta and was conducted by Susie Seiter.
DateCityCountryVenueConductor
March 28, 2012San FranciscoUnited StatesDavies Symphony HallEímear Noone
May 12, 2012AtlantaUnited StatesCobb Energy Performing Arts CentreSusie Seiter
June 6, 2012Los AngelesUnited StatesGreek TheatreEímear Noone
July 26, 2012Washington, D.C.United StatesThe Filene Center at Wolf Trap National ParkEímear Noone
September 15, 2012TorontoCanadaSony Centre for the Performing ArtsEímear Noone
September 22, 2012MinneapolisUnited StatesOrpheum TheatreEímear Noone
October 12, 2012DallasUnited StatesAT&T Performing Arts CenterEímear Noone
October 18, 2012BostonUnited StatesWang TheatreEímear Noone
October 25, 2012ChicagoUnited StatesChicago TheatreEímear Noone
November 6, 2012CalgaryCanadaSouthern Alberta Jubilee AuditoriumEímear Noone
November 28, 2012New York CityUnited StatesThe Theater at Madison Square GardenEímear Noone
December 3, 2012San AntonioUnited StatesThe Majestic TheatreEímear Noone
December 8, 2012West Palm BeachUnited StatesRaymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing ArtsEímear Noone
December 9, 2012MiamiUnited StatesAdrienne Arsht CenterEímear Noone
December 14, 2012San JoseUnited StatesSan Jose Civic AuditoriumEímear Noone
January 26, 2013MilwaukeeUnited StatesThe Riverside TheatreEímear Noone

Second Quest

A concert was held in July 2013 in Baltimore. Concerts were held in August in Newark, New Jersey, September in Seattle, October in Grand Rapids, and December in San Jose, California.
Two concerts were held in Canada: one in Montreal in June and another in Toronto in September. A concert in Mexico City was held in September.

Master Quest

Symphony of the Goddesses started a worldwide 2015 tour of a third season entitled "Master Quest". "Master Quest" season was extended with performance dates through 2016. The extended concert dates featured music and visuals from Tri Force Heroes for the Nintendo 3DS.
DateCityCountryVenueConductor
January 21, 2015NashvilleUnited StatesSchermerhorn Symphony Center
January 22, 2015NashvilleUnited StatesSchermerhorn Symphony Center
January 30, 2015HonoluluUnited StatesBlaisdell Concert Hall
February 7, 2015TokyoJapanTokyo International ForumTaizo Takemoto
February 27, 2015BostonUnited StatesSymphony HallAmy Andersson
March 2, 2015SeattleUnited StatesBenaroya HallAmy Andersson
March 6, 2015MonterreyMexicoArena MonterreyAmy Andersson
March 8, 2015Mexico CityMexicoArena de CiudadAmy Andersson
March 20, 2015TorontoCanadaSony Center PACAmy Andersson
April 16, 2015StockholmSwedenEricsson GlobeAmy Andersson
April 17, 2015LondonUnited KingdomSSE/Wembley ArenaAmy Andersson
April 19, 2015DüsseldorfGermanyMitsubishi Electric HallAmy Andersson
April 20, 2015MunichGermanyOlympiahalleAmy Andersson
April 23, 2015ParisFrancePalais des CongrèsAmy Andersson
April 24, 2015MilanItalyTeatro degli ArcimboldiAmy Andersson
April 30, 2015AtlantaUnited StatesCobb Energy Center
May 3, 2015MiamiUnited StatesJames L Knight Center
May 20, 2015EdmontonCanadaNorthern Jubilee HallAmy Andersson
May 22, 2015VancouverCanadaQueen Elizabeth TheaterAmy Andersson
May 23, 2015CalgaryCanadaSouthern Jubilee HallAmy Andersson
May 30, 2015MontrealCanadaPlace des ArtsAmy Andersson
June 10, 2015Las VegasUnited StatesThe Venetian
June 14, 2015Los AngelesUnited StatesWalt Disney Concert HallAmy Andersson
June 20, 2015AustinUnited StatesThe Long Center PAC
July 11, 2015San DiegoUnited StatesCopley Symphony HallAmy Andersson
July 18, 2015OrlandoUnited StatesDr. Phillips Center
August 28, 2015CharlottesvilleUnited StatesJohn Paul Jones ArenaAmy Andersson
August 29, 2015San FranciscoUnited StatesDavies Symphony Hall
September 10, 2015DurhamUnited StatesDurham Performing Arts Center
September 11, 2015St. LouisUnited StatesPowell HallAmy Andersson
September 12, 2015St. LouisUnited StatesPowell HallAmy Andersson
September 13, 2015St. LouisUnited StatesPowell HallAmy Andersson
September 16, 2015Washington, D.C.United StatesMusic Center at StrathmoreAmy Andersson
September 18, 2015PhiladelphiaUnited StatesMann CenterAmy Andersson
September 25, 2015ProvidenceUnited StatesProvidence Performing Arts CenterAmy Andersson
October 1, 2015ChicagoUnited StatesAuditorium TheatreAmy Andersson
October 2, 2015IndianapolisUnited StatesOld National CenterAmy Andersson
October 3, 2015MilwaukeeUnited StatesMilwaukee TheatreAmy Andersson
October 13, 2015New York CityUnited StatesBarclays CenterAmy Andersson
October 15, 2015Salt Lake CityUnited StatesAbravanel HallAmy Andersson
October 18, 2015ColumbusUnited StatesOhio TheaterAmy Andersson
October 21, 2015HoustonUnited StatesJones HallAmy Andersson
October 22, 2015HoustonUnited StatesJones HallAmy Andersson
October 24, 2015DallasUnited StatesMusic Hall at Fair ParkEímear Noone
October 25, 2015PortlandUnited StatesKeller Auditorium
November 8, 2015HamburgGermanyO2 WorldAmy Andersson
November 11, 2015AmsterdamNetherlandsHeineken Music HallAmy Andersson
November 12, 2015BrusselsBelgiumPalais 12Amy Andersson
November 13, 2015MadridSpainPalacio Vista AlegreAmy Andersson
November 14, 2015BarcelonaSpainAuditori ForumAmy Andersson
November 15, 2015RomeItalyAuditorium ConciliazioneAmy Andersson
November 21, 2015ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadionAmy Andersson
November 22, 2015DublinIrelandConvention CentreAmy Andersson
December 5, 2015San JoseUnited StatesCity National CivicAmy Andersson
January 21, 2016NashvilleUnited StatesSchermerhorn Symphony CenterAmy Andersson
January 22, 2016NashvilleUnited StatesSchermerhorn Symphony CenterAmy Andersson
February 23, 2016BostonUnited StatesSymphony HallAmy Andersson
March 8, 2016Costa MesaUnited StatesSegerstrom Center for the ArtsAmy Andersson
March 19, 2016TorontoCanadaSony CentreAmy Andersson
March 24, 2016JacksonvilleUnited StatesMoran TheatreAmy Andersson
March 26, 2016 †Kansas CityUnited StatesMusic Hall Kansas CityAmy Andersson
March 31, 2016MemphisUnited StatesThe OrpheumAmy Andersson
April 1, 2016New OrleansUnited StatesSaenger TheaterAmy Andersson
April 3, 2016ColumbusUnited StatesOhio TheaterAmy Andersson
April 8, 2016CharlottesvilleUnited StatesJohn Paul Jones AreaAmy Andersson
April 16, 2016MiamiUnited StatesArsht CenterAmy Andersson
April 23, 2016LondonUnited KingdomSSE/Wembley ArenaAmy Andersson
May 7, 2016 †SantiagoChileTheater CariolaAmy Andersson
May 11, 2016GuadalajaraMexicoTeatro DianaAmy Andersson
May 13, 2016MonterreyMexicoArena MonterreyAmy Andersson
May 15, 2016Mexico CityMexicoArena de CiudadAmy Andersson
May 20, 2016NashvilleUnited StatesSchermerhorn Symphony CenterAmy Andersson
May 21, 2016San AntonioUnited StatesMajestic TheaterAmy Andersson
June 13, 2016Los AngelesUnited StatesDolby TheatreAmy Andersson
June 23, 2016AustinUnited StatesLong CenterAmy Andersson
June 25, 2016MontrealCanadaPlace des ArtsAmy Andersson
July 14, 2016DenverUnited StatesBoettcher Concert HallAmy Andersson
July 22, 2016San DiegoUnited StatesCopley Symphony HallAmy Andersson
August 6, 2016OrlandoUnited StatesWalt Disney TheaterAmy Andersson
August 21, 2016San FranciscoUnited StatesDavies Symphony HallAmy Andersson
September 10, 2016AtlantaUnited StatesCobb Performing Arts CenterAmy Andersson
September 14, 2016SeattleUnited StatesBenaroya HallAmy Andersson
September 17, 2016PortlandUnited StatesArlene Schnitzer Concert HallAmy Andersson
September 21, 2016EdmontonCanadaNorthern Jubilee HallAmy Andersson
September 22, 2016CalgaryCanadaJack Singer Concert HallAmy Andersson
September 23, 2016VancouverCanadaQueen Elizabeth TheatreAmy Andersson
September 25, 2016PhiladelphiaUnited StatesThe Mann CenterAmy Andersson
September 29, 2016AmsterdamNetherlandsHeineken Music HallGiacomo Loprieno
September 30, 2016MilanItalyArcimboldiGiacomo Loprieno
October 1, 2016ZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadionGiacomo Loprieno
October 2, 2016StuttgartGermanyPorsche ArenaGiacomo Loprieno
October 5, 2016ViennaAustriaStadthalleGiacomo Loprieno
October 7, 2016GenevaSwitzerlandGeneva ArenaGiacomo Loprieno
October 8, 2016ParisFrancePalais des CongrèsGiacomo Loprieno
October 9, 2016BirminghamUnited KingdomSymphony Hall
October 12, 2016AntwerpBelgiumStadsschouwburg Antwerp
October 13, 2016ManchesterUnited KingdomBridgewater Hall-
October 14, 2016LisbonPortugalColiseu de Lisboa
October 15, 2016EssenGermanyGrugahalleGiacomo Loprieno
October 19, 2016StockholmSwedenStockholm Globe-
October 20, 2016GlasgowUnited KingdomClyde Auditorium-
October 21, 2016BerlinGermanyTempodrom-
October 22, 2016WarsawPolandTorwar Hall
October 23, 2016PragueCzech RepublicForum Karlin-
October 28, 2016BarcelonaSpainAuditori ForumGiacomo Loprieno
October 29, 2016MadridSpainPalacio VistalegreGiacomo Loprieno
October 30, 2016BilbaoSpainPalacio EuskaldunaGiacomo Loprieno
November 5, 2016Washington, D.C.United StatesWarner Theater-
November 10, 2016LouisvilleUnited StatesWhitney Hall-
November 11, 2016RochesterUnited StatesKodak Hall-
November 12, 2016ChicagoUnited StatesChicago Auditorium-
November 13, 2016NewarkUnited StatesNJPAC-
November 17, 2016CharlestonUnited StatesNCPAC-
November 18, 2016HoustonUnited StatesRevention Center-
November 19, 2016MilwaukeeUnited StatesRiverside Theater-
November 20, 2016FresnoUnited StatesSaroyan Theatre
November 21, 2016PhoenixUnited StatesKodak Hall-
December 4, 2016Salt Lake CityUnited StatesAbravanel Hall-
December 10, 2016San JoseUnited StatesCity National Civic-
December 16, 2016St. PetersburgUnited StatesMahaffey Theater-
January 7, 2017Fort WorthUnited StatesBass Performance Hall-
January 13, 2017HonoluluUnited StatesBlaisdell Concert Hall-
January 21, 2017Oklahoma CityUnited StatesCivic Center Music Hall-

† Multiple performances held the same day.

Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses

Symphony of the Goddesses started a new 2017 worldwide tour season. The five-movement symphony featured an all new movement from Skyward Sword, a much-anticipated arrangement from Breath of the Wild, and a reimagined score including music from A Link Between Worlds, Twilight Princess, the remake of Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time, A Link to the Past, and more.
DateCityCountryVenue
July 22, 2017Washington, D.C.United StatesThe Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park
September 9, 2017Quebec CityCanadaGrand Theatre de Quebec
September 15, 2017TorontoCanadaSony Centre
September 22, 2017SeattleUnited StatesParamount Theatre
September 23, 2017PortlandUnited StatesKeller Auditorium
September 30, 2017Los AngelesUnited StatesDolby Theatre
October 6, 2017Kansas CityUnited StatesKansas City Music Hall
October 7, 2017MemphisUnited StatesOrpheum Theatre
October 8, 2017Des MoinesUnited StatesDes Moines Civic Center
October 20, 2017New York CityUnited StatesUnited Palace Theatre
October 21, 2017BostonUnited StatesWang Theatre
October 27, 2017San AntonioUnited StatesMajestic Theatre
October 29, 2017SydneyAustraliaSydney Opera House
November 1, 2017DetroitUnited StatesOrchestra Hall
November 3, 2017BaltimoreUnited StatesLyric Theatre @ Model PAC
November 4, 2017ClevelandUnited StatesState Theatre
November 5, 2017ColumbusUnited StatesOhio Theatre
November 6, 2017PhoenixUnited StatesPhoenix Symphony Hall
November 10, 2017DurhamUnited StatesDPAC
November 11, 2017NorfolkUnited StatesChrysler Hall
November 13, 2017MonterreyMexicoAuditorio Pabellón
November 16, 2017Atlanta, GAUnited StatesCobb Energy PAC
November 17, 2017KnoxvilleUnited StatesKnoxville Civic Auditorium
November 18, 2017ChicagoUnited StatesChicago Auditorium Theatre
November 21, 2017LondonUnited KingdomEventim Apollo
November 24, 2017DüsseldorfGermanyMitsubishi Electric Halle
November 25, 2017BarcelonaSpainAuditori Fòrum – CCIB
November 26, 2017FlorenceItalyNelson Mandela Forum
November 30, 2017VancouverCanadaQueen Elizabeth Theatre
December 1, 2017EdmontonCanadaNorthern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
December 2, 2017CalgaryCanadaSouthern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
December 3, 2017MilwaukeeUnited StatesRiverside Theater
December 8, 2017MontrealCanadaPlace des Arts
December 9, 2017San JoseUnited StatesCity National Civic
December 11, 2017DublinIrelandBord Gáis Energy Theatre
December 14, 2017PittsburghUnited StatesHeinz Hall
December 15, 2017New OrleansUnited StatesSaenger Theatre
December 16, 2017MiamiUnited StatesThe Arsht Center
December 27, 2017PhiladelphiaUnited StatesKimmel Center
December 29, 2017Oklahoma CityUnited StatesCivic Center Music Hall
December 30, 2017Salt Lake CityUnited StatesAbravanel Hall

Other performances

In September 2015, the Nintendo World Store in New York City hosted a Zelda Symphony event, which consisted of a live musical performance by a string quartet from The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, an ocarina demo by David Ramos, photo opportunities of cosplaying fans, and Zelda Symphony merchandise. Executive producer Jason Michael Paul, Associate Producer Jacob Battersby and conductor Amy Andersson were also in attendance.
On October 13, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert hosted, as its musical guest, a performance from The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses to promote the tour dates as well as the release of Tri Force Heroes.

Reception

The series has been well received by the video game press. Writing for The Tech, Jessica Pourian said the silent nature of series protagonist Link worked well with the video displayed during the concert, helping to immerse the audience more than with video game concerts where dialogue is included. She noted extraordinary applause for the concert. She said she left the event wanting to go back and play Zelda games.
Tony Ponce of Destructoid found the music "awe-inspiring", "pure magic", and "as rich and as varied as the games themselves", while expressing a desire to hear some of the music cut from the performance.
Wired noted "many truly breathtaking moments" during the concert, saying the concert highlighted key moments in the music of the series. Wired said people need not even know the series well to enjoy the concert. Wired did complain of "dreadful live camerawork" and noted that the crowd was not particularly reserved.
Stephen Totilo of Kotaku was less enthusiastic about the concert, saying he liked it but did not love it, and criticized the triple-encore structure and the emphasis on battle themes, saying he thought the series was more about adventure than combat.