Rating: 
Summary: THIS is how you use an orchestra in your rock act
Review: If anyone would know how to use an orchestra, it's Yes. What other bands have attempted, Yes has mastered. Yes treats the orchestra like the other masterful musicians involved, sometimes in the forefront, sometimes in the background and a solo or two.Seemingly a little hesitant in Close to the Edge, they still pull it off nicely. They seem to settle into a groove in Long Distance Runaround. Don't Go is their usual ill-advised attempt at a radio hit, but still a pretty good song. The other new song, In The Presence Of, is beautiful and timely. Then comes their 23 minute epic, the Gates of Delirium. Here the orchestra provides the ultimate enhancement IMO. When the song reaches its fever-pitch halfway through, the entire sonic spectrum is filled to the point where you'll be hard pressed to mentally process it! It achieves the intended effect of depicting the chaos of war. The remainder of the songs make wonderful use of the orchestra as well. If you have any appreciation for the music of Yes, I highly recommend this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Just Another Way For Yes To make Money On Us fans
Review: i don't on this paricular Dvd,but i do own the original release.The one where they put together a half butted documentary with it.They should have included the cd to begin with.Then to top it off beware,they have left off a few cuts.I am happy I ripped the audio from the DVD and made my own cd,what the heck.It's for my own personal use and no copywrite laws broken.
Then beware of yespseak,I havent purchased this one and will one day.It stinks when they release a two disk set.One should be a freaking documentary that you watch once every six months and then a video should have been released.Then while I am on a roll all of these rhinehole rerereeases od ramasters already,they should have released in DVD-A format.
Discouraged Yes Fan of 32 years
Rating:
Summary: The enhancement of an orchestra
Review: This is my favorite of the Yes DVDs I own (also having Keys to Ascension and House of Yes). The sound quality is phenomenal. The audience is respectful but enthusiastic. I think reviewers here have said plenty. I just want to comment then on the orchestra. I did see this concert live in Philadelphia at an outdoor show, with good seats. I really had a hard time hearing the orchestral parts and found that it didn't really enhance their sound at all. Listening to this concert on this DVD, I hear the contribution that the orchestra truly made. My favorite parts include, for one, the end of the "I Get Up, I Get Down" section of "Close to the Edge". The orchestra just soars with Brislin's organ and Anderson's ethereal vocals, and it gives me chills to hear it. Anytime I listen to the original now, I hear that orchestral part. Another great moment occurs in "Ritual". The middle percussive section is breathtaking with not only four of the band members belting out percussives but the orchestra with the staccato strings. Finally, "Gates of Delirium" just becomes all out WAR in the middle as the band and the orchestra battle out a section that can easily become a muddled mess, but turns into a complex and glorious war. If you do not own another Yes DVD, get this one.
Rating:
Summary: Professionals at Work(Play)!
Review: Gates Of Delirium and Ritual alone are worth the price of the Dvd. I'm pumping this dvd through a Marantz 5.1 & 7.1 (DTS) receiver with Polk Audio Speaker's handling the load and this is the best sound quality I have in dvd form.Second verse of Gates with the orchestras Horn's on top of Squire's lazy bass delay, is completly magical(Simply Chilling). Drum's in Ritual are awe inspiring (He'll of a sound). The rest of the band(Still on Point) what vetrans they are so confident that it's uplifting & trippy to watch (Yes) work(with ease). Anderson's vocal's are allway's haunting(what range he has)like no other(You hang on his every word).500 Star's baby(Period)!
Rating: 
Summary: Symphonic Magnification
Review: I truly don't understand die hard Yes fans. There's always a debate on which band members they'd prefer, over the ones offered. No doubt they're an aging band, and all performances they give should be relished, as if it may be gone tomorrow.
This DVD rocks. Contained are some of the best live tunes I can recall in recent memory. Steve Howe is magical with his guitar, and his guitar sound change on stage is amazing, in keeping with the original recorded sound as it came of the album. "Roundabout" was re-tooled for this performance, and also energized by the women of the orchestra dancing on the stage with the aged members. Hey look, they're having fun!
I've never given "Ritual" more than a glance off "Tales". Again, here it is, energized, and played beautifuly.
Chris Squire is his old self. A God if you will, of his bass guitar, and sounds best on the "5.1 surround" offered. Alan White is also keeping all his players together, including the orchestra behind him. Probably his most difficult attempt at drumming, and follows through like the pro he is.
John Anderson is his cosmic self, rambling here and there, but that's how I remember seeing him live, and I doubt he'll change. One thing that's also not changed much, is his voice. He can still belt out the tunes, octivly speaking.
The only fault with the performance is the orchestra itself. At times I couldn't even the horns playing. I would have to fault a bad miking or mixing problem. I'll bet the actual live performance would pale the disc representation. Here I believe it was captured for a taste of what might have been had I been there, and I enjoyed all the tracks. I'm sure you will too.
The picture quality is amazing, even for DVD. This is what the format was made for.
If you really want to be video wowed, pick up their DVD called "House of Yes". You'll be able to see the bands every wrinkle in their performance.
This "Symphonic" is the disc to own, a slightly better performance over "House of Yes", great picure quality, sound, and it will leave you wanting this standard on all your DVD's.
Rating: 
Summary: A disapppointment
Review: Having seen both Symphonic Live and early 70's video Yessong it is interesting to compare them. First plusses of symphonic live: sound and picture quality is excellent, recorder in Amsternam in 2001 with youth orcherstra. And the finally play Gates of Delirium which is IMHO maybe the first or second best Yes song (other is Starhip Trooper). Both are seen which is excellent. Minuses: too many of them. Very boring newer songs, horrifick Owner of the lonely heart that tells about lack of musiclal understaning of newer Yes and above all, clinical and dry performance. Especially once great Stewe Howe is like risen from the grave, playing correctly but acting like a mummy. Very disapointing, and his guitar solo is laughable. In summary Yes guys are old, a bit tired men (the only one that impresses is the singer John Anderton, otherwise band looks and sounds tired.
IHMO Yessong, recorder 1974, is much better concert despite pooor sound and picture quality.
Rating:
Summary: Yes at their best
Review: Simply seeing -- and definitely hearing -- Yes perform Gates of Delirium and Close to the Edge with a symphony orchestra is alone worth the price of this concert DVD. Production values far outmatch other recent efforts such as Keys to Ascension. While Close to the Edge is inlcuded in the accompanying CD, Gates is not. That's a real shame because it is the highlight of this fantastic film.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT DVD FROM A GREAT BAND
Review: YES IS ONE OF THE BEST GROUPS FROM THE 70'S AND NOW THEY HAVE ONE OF THE BEST CONCERT DVD TO PROVE IT.THE SOUND AND THE VIDEO ARE GREAT AND THAT ORCHESTRA, THEY ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN.FEW GROUPS HAVE ACHIEVED SUCH A PERFECT BLEND WITH A SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA.THE SONG SELECTION IS PERFECT ALMOST ALL THE SONGS ARE FROM YES GOLDEN ERA,(YES ALBUM,FRAGILE,CLOSE TO THE EDGE) AND THE GROUP IS PLAYING WITH THE SKILLS AND FEROCITY OF THE YESSONGS DAYS.A MUST HAVE DVD.
Rating:
Summary: A good DVD that could have been great.
Review: When news first came out concerning Yes recording with an orchestra, I was excited about the prospect. After Magnification came out, they had fulfilled my expectations. When the DVD became available, I purchased it immediately. While the performances are first rate, they aren't without reservations. First off, while Tom Breslin is a competent keyboardist, personally he isn't the same caliber of musician as the actual members of Yes are. I'm sure that there are a myriad of other more competent keyboard players(my first choice would've been Rick Wakeman but egos/schedules didn't allow) that would have allowed for a better integration between musicians. The aging "hippie" antics of Jon Anderson were a bit distracting (see other reviews) but that is part of Jon's nature. The icons and animation were the most aggrevating, distracting and amateurish pieces of drek that I've seen. I realize that Jon is interested in computer animation but please leave their performance dvd's alone. Those complaints aside, this is an exellent dvd for any Yes fan. The accompanying cd in this set is an abridged version of the dvd leaving out "In The Presence Of", "Magnification", "Gates Of Delerium", "Ritual"(some of the better performances in the dvd) and Steve Howe's solo segment so it's a little disappointing in that respect.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, not perfect, enjoyable
Review: These guys are clearly awesome, but this DVD is only "very good," as opposed to "great!" The song selection could be better, and the 5.1 seperation is not all it could be. Some DVDs have the ability to transport the viewer to the show and make him/her feel as if he/she's right there in the front row. This is a well-direced video which may have created such effect, but for some stupid logo which kept appearing in the lower left hand corner of the screen. That was a bit of a mood-buster. All in all, though, most viewers will not be disappointed with this DVD.
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