I never expected symphonic Live to be so good! I am happy to have it!

[Hernan1987]

I put the DVD on, started playing it ...

Introduction : A beautiful symphonic arrangement with great visuals was a great way to begin (9/10)

Close to the edge : The beginning was a little dissapointing because Steve Howe was not playing with a lot of energy, but the I get up/down section made my day. Still, no concert can match the brilliance and perfection of the original song in the studio (9.5/10)

Long Distance Runaround : I never liked that tune but I enjoyed its symphonic intro (6.5/10)

Don't Go : What is this mediocre pop song doing here!? However, It sounded much better than the original (5/10)

In The Presence of: I would have preferred Give love each day or dreamtime but this song was played flawlessly and "magnificated" (9/10)

Gates Of Delirium : One of The highlights of the DVD. The keyboard player (how old is he?) played Moraz's keyboards perfectly with the same sound and Steve/chris were on fire! My favourite section on the song was the battle scene because of the show the keyboardist gave (hammering the keyboards) and the Soon oh soon section which was better than the original (10/10)

Concerto in D Howe solo : mmm I don't know, why was they orchestra silent when the song was meant to be played by them. Anyways it was very different and Steve sounded like he couldn't keep a tempo. So I have mixed feelings (8/10)

Mood for a Day : Different, still beautiful (10/10)

Starship Trooper: All I can say is wow!! the song was played perfectly. I just wished the keyboardist would raise the volume of his keyboards. This is Howe's best moment on the DVD I think. But ... on the Wurm section, there is a 1-second pause.(10/10)

Magnification : Not a strong song ... but Howe played better live (7/10)

And you and I : Other highlight on the DVD. This song gave me goosebumps throughtout the whole 10 minutes. Howe's slide guitar work improved. (10/10)

Ritual : The song seems to drag at times (typical for a Tales song) but it was played flawlessly and with more power. The percussion section was the highlight of the DVD. the "nous sullem solemn" part in the end was beautiful too (9/10)

I've seen all good people : Such a favourite of mine. I believe this is the best pop tune Yes has ever made and they captured everything I love about it including the church organ chords (9.5/10)

Owner of a lonely heart : Trevin was not needed to play this song ... it was in fact better than the original with steve howe on the band who gave a better sound to the guitar. (8.5/10)

Roundabout : It was refreshing to see all young members of the orchestra dance to a prog song. The keyboardist really showed that he was capable of playing with yes with that amazing keyboard solo (but turn up the volume!)

In conclusion : it was almost perfect. My only complaints were the pause of starship, the low keyboard volume, and some weak songs in the DVD instead of Heart of Sunrise, awaken, or Your is no disgrace.

[The_Fish]

"...some weak songs in the DVD instead of Heart of Sunrise, awaken, or Your is no disgrace." Indeed I totally agree with you

[Faceintheplace]

Same here, that's my only complaint too. YIND or HOTS would have been great with the orchestra, or maybe Perpetual Change which was played at some shows on the Symphonic tour.

Otherwise a great show and DVD.

[slazman]

It's on my Santa List

[allpurechance]

One of the things I love the most about this DVD is how much Alan 'owned' the songs,particularly the 'epics',and most particularly Close To The Edge.Here he proves,once and for all,that this is his.As hard as he works on Gates & Ritual,he is electrifying on CTTE.What a performance.And I love the way Mr.Keitel takes his cues from Alan,The true conductor that night,and probably for much of the tour,or all of it.I love Alan!

[Topographic][Sardaukar]

Great concert.......amazing production!! I can hardly watch Keys after I've put this one on.

[kevycanavan]

Great dvd musically apart from the post 1980s stuff...

i hated the way the orchestra were dancing about to roundabout, very very cringworthy, totally uncool.

Revealing Science of God instead of Ritual and Siberian Khatru, HOTS and YINO instead of the magnification stuff and the set would have been nearly perfect

[A Student of YES]

I skipped a day at work today! Snow up here in the North. Nothing bad, just the first of what is yet to come. Didn't feel well this morining so I called in. Took a few hours this morning and put in a couple of DVD's I bought and have not had time to watch. Symphonic and the Acoustic DVD. Symphonic is a masterpiece! I would given anything for Rick to have been on this one! If Wakeman was the keyboard man on this DVD I may never need to see another concert! It was that good! I thought the orchestra would be kind of quirky. Somehow it gives these guy's that "grand masters of their craft" kind of feel. Keyboard player did not have the sounds or the notes to fill for Wakeman but hey he was good. Wakeman is tough to fill for anyway. DVD is the best filmed and dubbed Vid I have of YES to date. Awaken would have been wonderful to here with that orchestra??? Too bad.

The Acoustic DVD was very enjoyable! Funny to see chris with his sunglasses and using all kinds of effects on that "Unplugged" Acoustic bass! He really did not look like he was into this at all, until the music started, then he was right there. Wakeman was funny like always and the songs are so different acoustically it is interesting to watch. Well worth the money. Fun way to spend the better part of a snowy day.


Randy

[stevie]

Great dvd musically apart from the post 1980s stuff...

i hated the way the orchestra were dancing about to roundabout, very very cringworthy, totally uncool.

Revealing Science of God instead of Ritual and Siberian Khatru, HOTS and YINO instead of the magnification stuff and the set would have been nearly perfect

I thought the way the orchestra got into the whole show was great!
Why shouldn't people get up and dance to Yes songs?

[The_Fish]

I heard from someone Wakeman dosn't do Gates, so if he was there, I would be a little dissapointed, sorry folks, I just love that song.

[Vic W.]

I thought the way the orchestra got into the whole show was great!
Why shouldn't people get up and dance to Yes songs?

Of course they should. I loved the dancing, too. And like you said, the orchestra members were obviously into it during the whole set.

Definitely cool.

[rememberer]

I heard from someone Wakeman dosn't do Gates, so if he was there, I would be a little dissapointed, sorry folks, I just love that song.

I thought I'd probably be disappointed if I got it, and then I found out it had Gates of Delirium, so I ordered it immediately at that point. The video on QPR is amazing, but the sound mix is a bit off through a lot of disc one, which just so happens to include all of the Relayer album unfortunately, and I think that's the only other option for Gates on any official DVD release. So now I wonder how I ever lived without either one.

I hauled Symphonic out again last night just for a visual break from all this wonderful audio I've been getting, and the whole thing really is awesome, IMHO. Tom Brislin does a great job on keys, and Chris looks like he's getting into a lot of my favorite bass parts, particularly on Gates, just had to see it again. :-)

[1yesfan]

I think this best live vid recording they have put out ot date.

[allpurechance]

...tomorrow is my bi-monthly(well,nearly,lol) get together with my sister to celebrate all things Yes.I'm in a distinctly Yessymphonic mood.Things may change,but I think it's going to be time to revisit this gem.When it first appeared/arrived(for I required it very,very BADLY!lmaoOOOOOOo...oh & note to Yes!LMAO!PLEASE,oh PLEASE give us more concert dvd's...did I mention PLEASE??oh,PLEASE??!!....for I WILL purchase!....!....!...),I was overjoyed!AT LAST!Someone has captured the essence of this band,chronicled the magic,er,pardon me-Magic!...for all to see!And magic it remains.As wonderful as Tom Brislin's performance is here(& my sons,upon witnessing his 'flairs' live,in Gates Of Delirium,felt he was a highlight of the show!),it is the remaining Four who flip my switch so decidedly.You get to see them kind of 'dial in' on The Solid Time Of Change.By the time the main theme is introduced,you know the band is on form.The live In The Presence Of is so wonderful.I don't even mind Don't Go in this show.And You And I is magnificent,as always(one of my all time favorite Yestunes-on this tour,I once again got to fulfill my adolescent fantasy of singing this song to my Honey... :O)...[so many fine,fine memories Yes has provided me with,me & mine...how can I ever thank them?....this is ONE way how...]...).Yes,Yessymphonic impends this weekend...!...

[The Whale]

I love this dvd the animations are really cool (g.o.d)! did any one notic that there are some people right in front holding a banner that says well se you @ yesfans.com??? wonder who they are?

[Balrog]

The only problem with "Symphonic" is that it raised the bar so high that I have been slightly disappointed with the last two dvds. I hope that the upcoming "Songs from Tsongas" dvd gets back to what makes "Symphonic" so great -amazing musicians playing awe-inspiring tunes!

[kevycanavan]

Anyone else think the oboe and clarinet players should be shot?
I really am not a fan of the orchestras insisting on acting like knobs, chris does that enough for 500 people. I just wanted to scream when the brass section started waying thier instruments about during close to the edge, how bloody unprofessional.

Close to the edge on this dvd is mind blowing. I'ts a reall pitty Revealing Science isn't on this.

[Gabriel]

I've just got this dvd for christmas and watched it just over a week ago; absolutely fantastic. I couldnt get over how great the sound and picture was and seeing Jon moving his hands around in spacy manner during the songs made me realise what I missed sitting way back on the sides at Wembley!

Songs were great, but my highlights were definatly Gates of Delirium, Ritual and And You And I. Watching Tom on the keyboards was awesome; that guy has some raw talent and its easy to forget about Patrick and Rick!

[1yesfan]

I didn't see that on the symph dvd? Where at??

"did any one notic that there are some people right in front holding a banner that says well se you @ yesfans.com??? wonder who they are?"

[brotherofmine]

No Tim I'll have to go and play it now and check it all.

[Timmo]

I saw this DVD for the first time this weekend up at Sheilers' house.

Fanfreakingtastic.

"The Gates of Delirium" on this disc isn't a song, it's a religious experience.

[Scooty]

I love this dvd the animations are really cool (g.o.d)! did any one notic that there are some people right in front holding a banner that says well se you @ yesfans.com??? wonder who they are?


Its not a Yesfans.com banner...

Its a Yesfocus banner..the Fan site from the Netherlands..:)

Sorry to burst the bubble..

[Flo]

Andersonic must be one of those, then ?

[Scooty]

Andersonic must be one of those, then ?

Yes he is. In fact he's helping to hold the banner..except we cant see him because he's holding it over his head..LOL...Its what he told me anyway..:)

Its a pretty cool site too...

[kaethlea]

I totally agree with the person who said that this dvd raises the bar so high that we will probably be disappointed with any future dvd's. The quality of the audio and the video is superb. I can't watch this dvd often enough. Everyone really seems to be enjoying themselves. Even Steve Howe smiles during Roundabout when the orchestra appears dancing in a line behind them. That does not bother me. Although I've never personally thought of dancing to Yes music, I can imagine that others could easily be inspired to dance. At first I thought the dancing was a bit hokey, but now I see that it fits. Everything about this concert is a joy to behold. It really made me appreciate Alan White's pivotal role in the music. If you don't have this dvd in your collection then what's holding you back?

[millbuc]

I agree that this is the ultimate yes live dvd-production wise etc and i must agree also that the orchestra dancing on roundabout is VERY cringeworthy! But i loved that tour because of gates(i cried a bit because i never thought i would ever see them perform it)

[jcostello]

I agree that this is the ultimate yes live dvd-production wise etc and i must agree also that the orchestra dancing on roundabout is VERY cringeworthy! But i loved that tour because of gates(i cried a bit because i never thought i would ever see them perform it)

Also, if you want to gorge yourselves further and make a day of it, I would also recommend getting (if you don't already have these) the Yescapade video (from the fan gathering in Kelseyville, Calif., before the YesSymphonic show there; might still be available through YesServices, you'd have to check) and the Magnification DVD-A.

John Super-Mega-Magnified Yesfan

[slazman]

Thanks for the reminder ... I really MUST get this DVD

[Balrog]

While surfing I found this review of Symphonic that I thought was excellent: http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avsoftware/dvd-video/YesSymphonicLiveDVD.php Its always nice to see a favorable review on Yes in the general press!