I'm curious to see if they'll play the two overtures or whether the band will just come in on TGOM and MOB for each Act. I seem to remember that they didn't play the SDOIT overture live, just piped in, and obviously didn't play False Awakening Suite on last tour, just a video presentation.
I'd be shocked if they didn't play both.
I think False Awakening Suite was specifically written to open the show and be their lead-in, just as the "easter egg" acted as the credits music for the show, like musical book-ends. They could have played it live, but I get the impression it was possibly never their intention to do so.
SDOIT Overture was simply too hard to pull off live, since it had such an "orchestra" heavy arrangement, and it's a hard song to hold together with the orchestral style percussion and changing tempos. They probably attempted it and realized it wasn't going to work live, so opted for the backing track instead.
I think TA was designed to be played through from start to finish, and I can't see any reason why the two instrumental tracks wouldn't be played here. They're important to establishing and re-establishing the musical themes, and aren't difficult songs by DT standards.
I was thinking the same thing yesterday and I think they will have the two overtures piped, backed by an elaborate video presentation, introducing us to the Astonishing world.
I can see the same problems performing these overtures live as SDOIT had when they performed it. Plus, there is perhaps the most technical moment on the album in Dystopian Overture, where DT instruments blend in and interact with the orchestra and brass sections. Even for musicians as talented as these guys I think the fiddly timing of this section would be EXTREMELY hard to achieve.
As I was listening to the first overture, I could so imagine the strobe light appearing on JP as the opening riff of The Gift Of Music began.
Thinking about video presentations does anyone think there will be visuals throughout the entire concert allowing audiences to watch a movie of sorts to follow the storyline?
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For me not playing Dystopian Overture would be like not playing Overture 1928.
Just imagine the show: lights go out, you hear Descent of the Nomacs, there are those two loud noises at the end and then....... nothing? it would be the most anticlimatic beginning of a show in DT history.
They will play it live, *maybe* they could pipe in the Entr'Acte, but Dystopian Overture will be played.