Last Saturday’s performance at Copley Symphony Hall was one to remember for the those who experienced the first ever “Symphony Interrupted,” showcasing Dave Mustaine as a soloist for the San Diego Symphony. What made it unforgettable however, wasn’t simply the heavy metal legend playing alongside a professional orchestra, but how their different styles meshed.

Mustaine joined the stage dressed to impress, ready to shred his guitar for Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air” under the conduction of Ken-David Masur. Mustaine’s guitar seemed to bring about minor amplification problems in contrast to the orchestra’s soft sound, however, things picked up for the unique ensemble as “Summer” and “Winter” from Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” were beautifully performed.

Following Vivaldi, the symphonic orchestra performed Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” introducing many of Mustaine’s eager fans to the elegant compositions of classical music, and the serenity that comes with it. The highlight of the night consisted of a perfectly-arranged version of Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction” which made fans shower the performers with whistles and screams. However, the night wasn’t over until Mustaine joined the symphony once again, jacket off, bow tie undone, for the final performance of Richard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.”

Despite small drawbacks in the beginning, critics must realize the factors which bring about a good performance in the classical world, most skills needed to perform a flawless piece take years to master. Mustaine sent out a big thank-you to his fans on Facebook after “Symphony Interrupted.” He commented, “I was ‘a fish out of water,’ but we learn so much from ‘doing’ the songs that it is just a short matter of time until we start ‘being’ the songs.”

Mustaine performed off an impressive memory and projected a refined showmanship, which any experienced musician could appreciate.

Also read: Classical music featuring a heavy metal legend

Courtesy of Travis Schinn