Which tour is better: YesSymphonic or MasterWorks

[Aragorn]

Since the setlists are pretty similar, I am curious which tour would you say was better? Did they play better at MW or Symphonic? Was MW better because it did not have a symphony (and related sound problems) or did the symphony really enhance the music?

[luckyseven]

Even though I thouroughly enjoyed the Symphonic show, I think I liked MasterWorks better for a couple of reasons. The band seemed tighter to me when they did not have to worry about what the orchestra was doing. Second, I think Igor played very well on the last tour, his playing made an impact on the show whereas Tom's did not (even though that may be partially intentional). With so many prominant keyboard sections in Yes songs, they need a strong player.

[1yesfan]

I must say that Masterwords was my Fav. While the orch sound has made them sound real FULL, the Works tour was jsut rocking. Igor was GREAT!!! Chris played like I have not heard him in any tour I have attnd'd.

I thought they were both great, but a funny thing happened to me after Masterworks that did not happen after Symphonic Yes. That is, it took me 6 months to come down from Masterworks. I was completely blown away after Masterworks--not to say that I didn't love this tour a whole lot... but something happened--something intangible. I don't know... One of those mysteries of life.



Close to the edge...

[frodoadventure]

Had to put in a vote for MasterWorks, but I did enjoy seeing some of the same songs for a second go round. They could play Gates every tour and I would not object.

[yesskater]

I'm of the reverse of yessiree's post. I thoroughly enjoyed both performances, but I'm still stoked about the symphonic show, almost four weeks after the fact.

This may be due to the fact that the 2000 Masterworks show in Denver was booked at a poor venue; imagine Yes playing your high school gymnasium or hometown bingo hall. The performance itself was phenomenal (as always), but the venue left a little to be desired. It's not that I dislike small venues; I saw King Crimson a few years ago (w/Bruford) at a small theatre, and it worked very well. I think Yes and its fans deserve a little better.

I guess I was one of the few that actually heard the orchestra on every Yes piece they contributed to.

[Earl Grey]

I LOVE YES, in any way, shape or form, so I enjoyed YESYMPHONIC. Better than seeing any other band perform, for sure. Yet...
For me "MASTERWORKS" was the penultimate YESSHOW! It rocked, it had subtleties & adventures. The dream-show I thought we'd never get to see. I'm STILL buzzing from that one, & I think my present buzz is still the effect of Masterworks, not the present tour.
One problem with the orchestra was that YES was locked into the music as it was written on the score-sheet: they couldn't take new tangents on old themes. At times they appeared frustrated (Steve especially).
It was a nice diversion, but I'm glad (according to recent interviews) that YES will return AS the orchestra in the future!
:yesbird:

[Original_Shifty]

Masterworks was great, because we finally got to hear GOD and Ritual for the first time in a long time. Although for me it was the first time at all. However, I flew from Vancouver, Canada to Reno to see the first show. Anyone can tell you who went to that show, that there were a number of stumbles. I was in Heaven though.

Now for Symphonic Yes, these songs were tight and brought me to the edge of tears. Especially "Soon" part of GOD.

So which one was better? They both are equal in my mind.

[fragilesi]

Without seeing either Symphonic is easily the best because it's coming to the UK!!!

Simon.

[sirsmooth61]

i must say that i was so excited and pumped after i heard the setlist for masterworks as i have not heard ritual and gates for over 20 years, after i got home after the show, i was pumped for months and i played the cds nonstop and drove my girlfriend crazy with them! lol! the symphonic tour was basically the same selist, but with an orchestra. it also sounded great! so, i really cannot pick which tour was better, as they are the same setlist, but, if i gotta pick, i will pick the masterworks, as i can remember the day of the show on how excited i was driving to the show! now, if they can ever play some stuff on the next tour off of tormato, then i will die a happy man! i have not heard any of those songs since 79!

[jcostello]

I think I would give the edge to the Masterworks show I saw in Chicago; oddly enough, because it was outdoors. I had a much better/closer seat for Symphonic, but there was a very cool, cosmic synchronicity to watching seagulls flying around while Jon sang about "soaring talons." That, and I would also give the edge to Igor over Tom, although I thought Tom did OK (notice that I'm not making "leftover Meatloaf" jokes about him anymore). I would have preferred to see Masterworks in Mpls., but that isn't a reason to pick Symphonic over it.

John C.

[Robert Shupe]

I decided not to straddle thge fence on this one. I voted for the MW tour. It was my first live experience with Gates and Ritual. It was like your first kiss. How can one forget. The Masterworks had power to me and left me emotionally exhausted. I was shaking by the end of Gates. My wife was next to me and it was glorious.

Please do not get me wrong. The symphonic tour was rich and lush. I mean it had the most beautiful version of And You And I.
However, I chose MW.

Robert Shupe

[bjm0rwo]

I'll contribute to this thread when I've seen the current tour.But it was a treat to hear the Masterworks being played live after so many years. It will be hard to beat.

[Earl Grey]

...after all, they're talking about doing 'To Be Over' and some of the 'DRAMA' tunes (Will be SO nice to hear JON singing 'Into The Lens'...etc), most of, if not ALL of, 'MAGNIFICATION'.

There was talk on Alan's part, of doing 'Mindrive'. I'll believe it when I hear it-I hope so...

I can't wait! :huh:

[Tayo]

After seeing the "Symphonic" tour at the Mann in Philly and the "Masterworks" tour at the E-Center in Camden,my nod goes to the "Masterworks" tour. But after seeing the "Symphonic" tour at Radio City Music Hall in N.Y,the nod goes back to the
"Symphonic" tour. I guess the venue you see them in tells the story.

[bataisflow]

Radio City was the best show I have ever seen!

[jcostello]

Originally posted by Earl Grey
...after all, they're talking about doing 'To Be Over' and some of the 'DRAMA' tunes (Will be SO nice to hear JON singing 'Into The Lens'...etc), most of, if not ALL of, 'MAGNIFICATION'.

There was talk on Alan's part, of doing 'Mindrive'. I'll believe it when I hear it-I hope so...

Yes, I'd like to hear Mind Drive too, although, if they're going to be doing songs from Drama (the Yes album that Jon wasn't on) tunes, how 'bout some songs from ABWH (the Yes album that Chris wasn't on), the first Yes album and Time and A Word (two of the Yes albums that Steve wasn't on)? Yes already does some of the songs that Alan wasn't on (like Close to the Edge). If not, the evil one may chuckle at them.

Peace, Love, and I Would Love to Hear the quartet Take a Stab at "Quartet" (from ABWH),

John C.

[Earl Grey]

Oh Yeah!

Good call there Mr. Costello....

ABWH: The great 'lost' YES album (Well, it WAS nicely documented on the lazer-disc show-thing: [lazer-what?!]. And the live CD, that's not THAT easy to find, but we'd love to hear some of those songs again, huh?).

They've done pre-Steve stuff before: all is fair, guys! :heydude:

[brotherofmine]

I voted for Symphonic cause it was an awesome tour but also to vote for my discontent that the "Masterworks" tour never came to UK.:cussing:

[umgekehrt]

I didn't go to Masterworks but just the orchestra made YesSymphonic such a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[cjreyes]

I went with Masterworks, having attended it and only experiencing Symphonic through DVD. I think the songs had more energy with just the 5, as there were probably too many notes to deal with, with all of those instruments. Igor kicks Brislin or whoever's butt, too. :keyboard:

[AnnAdams]

I liked the masterworks tour, but the Symphonic was way better. I liked seeing the orchestra jam with Yes!

[Scottie]

The spectacle of the orchestra was something to behold no doubt. I found the sound to be somewhat convoluted throughout the performance. Yes music in it’s complexities needs little additional orchestration. It just seemed to be a bit overwhelming. Yet the DVD is mixed well and I love it tremendously. So I guess it was the sound from my vantage point on that particular evening. In a side note: Tom Brislin was the most animated and energetic keyboardist I have ever witnessed.

Masterworks had a fantastic set list and it was a return to live Yes shows for me. I hadn’t seen any since ‘89 before this tour. It holds a certain place symbolically and sentimentally in my heart.