(Yes, I know who he is, I’d be more likely to say “who?” to Slash. And since when is a concert hall “crusty”? Sigh.)

Virtual Maestro, a piece of software that uses the Wii and its Remote to allow players to conduct an orchestra, has been brought to the UK and will be on show before LSO concerts.

The game was developed by a team led by Teresa Nakra, an assistant professor of music at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. It has already been on display in the US using a 42″ plasma screen. The team hopes to develop the game further, but its sponsor – investment banking firm, UBS – says there are no plans for it to make it into homes any time soon.

“For so many people, classical music is about a crusty music hall”, uttered Ann Drew of UBS. “The design was intended to bring a new, different experience to concert-going.”

SPOnG sees no reason for gamers to favour one breed of rhythm game over the other. We encourage the gaming community to get along to both and see if they can do Gergiev as well as they do Slash.

I doubt that playing virtual conductor is going to convince gamers to come to symphony concerts, but I’ll be happy to say I’m wrong about that.

I don’t really get virtual conducting, guitar playing or even cello playing. Just not my cuppa.

Now virtual gardening, on the other hand, I think I could get into. Just don’s ask me to do the real stuff.