Yes - Symphonic Live


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Eagle Vision
Catalog Number: EREDV252
Format: DVD
Total Time: 194:00:00

Throughout the concert each time an icon appears you can watch an animation. During the orchestra's overture a first animation takes us through a Roger Dean landscape and then into space in which the immortal YES-logo flies like a huge spaceship. The spacecraft transported Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Tom Brislin and a huge symphonic orchestra and landed in the Heineken Hall in Amsterdam. What better way to introduce the atmosphere of the YES galaxy than by performing "Close To The Edge" encorporating large chunks of powerful strings. It's exactly those strings that extra emphasize the many breaks and changes the song contains. Due to the many cameras available, all angles of the stage are covered, and whilst animations pop up during long parts, you are given the possibility to watch the same part in two different ways. It's amazing how the orchestra's horns add to the dramatics during the "I get up, I get down" section and great also to see how Tom Brislin introduces his own solos, which fare much better than the Wakeman clone Koroshev could ever achieve in his life! Astonishing also to hear and see with how much ease Jon Anderson tackles those high notes. This guy gets better with age!

A new symphonic introduction precedes a rousing version of "Long Distance Runaround" which certainly pleases members of the European Festival Orchestra. New songs such as "Don't Go" and "In The Presence Of" from the new album Magnification sound like true Yes classics already. Especially the vocal harmonies during "In The Presence Of" sound ever so well. Having witnessed the band live with the orchestra both in Belgium and the night of the DVD recording in Holland, I found "Gates Of Delerium" to be the absolute highlight. Sadly they didn't perform it in Belgium so Belgian fans will be ever so pleased to see it included in this set, maybe feeling even more bitter to see what they missed live in Antwerp! Here Tom Brislin evokes the Patrick Moraz style merging ever so well with the orchestra. Once Steve Howe attacks his steel guitar we all know we're on our way to the most beautiful melody in the history of pop music: "Soon." Again Jon's voice is crystal clear, nicely contrasting with Chris' loud bass.

With a camera high in the air we can see that Steve Howe has a carpet under his feet but not during his solo spot when he moves towards the centre of the stage. One wonders however why he keeps on playing either "The Clap" or "Mood For A Day" like tonight. I mean the guy has released so much solo material over the years, why doesn't he make a medley with some of these tunes and surprise us? Together with the orchestra it's as if "Starship Trooper" gets another dimension. It's also the song in which Chris Squire demonstrates his skills. Although very much Yes, the title track "Magnification" has a very contemporary feel about it. Again the strings do a remarkable job during "And You And I" whilst we see Squire playing harmonica. By now the atmosphere in the hall is boiling and what better way to continue than with 'Ritual" from the sublime double set Tales From Topographic Oceans. No doubt the highlight here is the battle between Squire, White and the orchestra culminating in a solo spot for Squire and a drum solo for White. It really explodes when next to Alan, Chris attacks the kettle drums whilst also Jon and Tom bang on some drums. It's sounds like carnival in Rio de Janeiro!

After almost 2 1/2 hours Jon's voice is still fresh enough to tackle a swirling version of "All Good People" making sure everyone in the hall stands up to sing and to clap along. It marks the end of the actual concert but the crowd wants more ... and gets more! Steve Howe even has to attack his least favourite Yes-track of all time when "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" is performed. To help him out of his misery Trevor Rabin's guitar solo is performed on keyboards by Tom. Certainly not vintage Yes but still the best selling Yes song of all time. Now the hall is really cooking so what better song to finish this unique event than with "Roundabout"? By now all the girls from the orchestra have joined the band on stage to sing and dance along as this was their final concert on this tour. No doubt an incredible end to an incredible tour! For the band, the orchestram and the audience this was a night never to forget. With this DVD we are unlikely to, being able to relive every single second. Pity Rick Wakeman wasn't there to make the picture complete though!

Because the "normal" disc was already filled to the rim with the actual concert (2 hours 45 minutes!), the wonderful package has sufficient space to slip an extra disc in the nice cardboard container. First on the cards here is the videoclip for "Don't Go" which is made up of live fragments and occasional 3D elements. The biggest chunk however concerns a documentary called "Dreamtime," showing Yes behind the scenes, during rehearsals, etc... It tells he story behind the idea of working together with an orchestra. Then we are taken to Philadelphia and to some meet and greet sessions where parents are taking their brainwashed kids adorned in Yes merchandise. Next stop is the Roger Dean Art Exhibition. There's snippets of interviews with Tom Brislin, arranger Larry Group?, conductor Bill Stromberg, tour manager Paul Spriggs. We see Steve Howe tuning different guitars, we see the impact of the Internet in getting Yes-fans to unite even going as far as Yes-fans getting married! All in all a nice section for diehard Yes fans as it shows something else, something extra. The disc itself ends with a great new version of "Long Distance Runaround" called the "remember the dream remix" by Tim Panella. A great piece and proof that upcoming generations will have some wonderful times ahead of them thanks to YES! Without any doubt this DVD is THE ideal gift for any occasion!


Tracklisting:
DVD 1: Overture / Close To The Edge / Long Distance Runaround / Don't Go / In the Presence Of / Gates of Delirium / Steve Howe Guitar Solo: Lute Concerto In D Major, 2nd Movement - Mood For A Day / Starship Trooper / Magnification / And You And I / Ritual / I've Seen All Good People / Owner of a Lonely Heart / Roundabout

DVD 2: Don't Go - Bonus Video / Dreamtime documentary

Musicians:
Jon Anderson - vocals, charisma
Steve Howe - guitars
Chris Squire - bass
Alan White - drums
Tom Brislin - keyboards

Discography:
Yes (1969)
Time And A Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1972)
Close To The Edge (1972)
Yessongs (1973)
Tales From Topographic Oceans (1974)
Relayer (1975)
Going For The One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
Yesshows (1980)
Drama (1980)
Classic Yes (1982)
90125 (1983/2004)
90125 Live - The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1989)
Yesyears (1991)
Yesstory (1991)
Highlights: The Very Best Of Yes (1993)
Talk (1994)
Keys To Ascension I (1996)
Keys To Ascension II (1997)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
Yes, Friends And Relatives (1998)
Beyond And Before: BBC Recordings 1969-1970 (1998)
Something's Coming (1998)
Friends & Relatives (1998)
The Ladder (1999)
Millennium Collection (1999)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (2000)
Yes, Friends and Relatives - Volume Two (2001)
YesSymphonic (ep) (2001)
Magnification (2001)
Keystudio (ep) (2001)
3 For 1 Box Set (2001)
Original Members Of Yes (2001)
Extended Versions (2002)
Friends And Relatives: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 (2002)
Yestoday (2002)
In A Word (2002)
Yes Remixes (2003)
Friends And Relatives: Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2 (2003)
Roundabout: Best Of Yes Live (2003)
The Yes Story Gold (2003)
The Ultimate Yes - 35th Anniverary Collection (2004)
(Re)Union (2004)
Topography: The Yes Anthology (2004)
Inside Yes 1968-1973: A Critical Review (2004)
The Word Is Live (2005)
Live And Solo: The Collection (2006)
Greatest Hits Live (2006)
An Evening Of Yes (2006)
Yesstories: Group & Solo Tales (2006)
Essentially Yes (2006)
The Definitive Rock Collection (2007)
Roundabout & Other Hits (2006)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
Works (2007)
The Best Of Yes: 1970-1987 (2007)
Symphonic Live (2009)
The BBC Recordings 1969-1970 (2009)
Introducing Yes (2009)
Wonderous Stories: The Best Of Yes (2009)
Union Live (2011)
Fly From Here (2011)
In The Present - Live From Lyon (2011)
Heaven & Earth (2014)
Songs From Tsongas (2014)
Like It Is: Yes At The Bristol Hippodrome (2014)
Progeny: Seven Shows From Seventy-Two (boxset) (2015)
Like It Is: Yes At The Mesa Arts Center (2015)
Topographic Drama - Live Across America (2017)
Fly From Here - Return Trip (2018)
From A Page - Studio Tracks Plus In The Present Live From Lyon (2019) Yes50 Live (2019)

9012LIve (VHS/DVD) (1985/2005)
Greatest Hits Video (VHS/DVD) (1991/2001)
Yesyears: A Retrospective (VHS/DVD) (1991/2003)
Yes: Live - 1975 At Q.P.R. (VHS) (1993)
Live In Philadelphia 1979 (VHS/DVD) (1996/2003)
Keys To Ascension (VHS/DVD) (1997/2001/2009)
The Union Tour Live (DVD) (1999)
House Of Yes: Live From The House Of Blues (VHS/DVD) (2000)
The Best Of MusikLaden Live (VHS/DVD) (2000/2003)
Live In Amsterdam (VHS/DVD) (2002)
Symphonic Live (DVD+CD) (2003)
Yes: Special Edition EP (DVD) (2003)
YesSpeak (DVD) (2003)
YesAcoustic (DVD) (2004/2006)
35th Anniversary Concert: Songs From Tsongas (DVD) (2004)
YesSpeak - YesAcoustic - 35th Anniversary Edition (DVD) (2005)
Critical Review 1968-1973 (DVD) (2005)
Greatest Video Hits (DVD) (2005)
Inside Yes Plus Friends And Family (DVD) (2006)
Acoustic Live (DVD) (2006)
Total Rock Review (DVD) (2006)
Close To The Edge: Rock Milestones (DVD) (2007)
Live At Montreux (DVD/BR) (2007)
The Lost Broadcasts (DVD) (2009)
Rock Of The 70s (DVD) (2009)
Union Live (2011)
Live Hemel Hempstead Pavilion October 3rd 1971 (2014)

Genre: Symphonic Prog

Origin UK

Added: November 2nd 2002
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: yesworld.com
Hits: 2188
Language: english

  

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