Symphonic Live is a video and live album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on DVD and a single CD on 18 June 2002 by Eagle Vision and subsequently on two CDs and on Blu-ray by Eagle Records. The album documents the group's performance at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam on 22 November 2001 during their Yessymphonic Tour, supporting their nineteenth studio album Magnification, which also featured an orchestra. The tour featured Yes performing on stage with an orchestra; Symphonic Live features the European Festival Orchestra conducted by Wilheilm Keitel.

Symphonic Live
Video / live album by
Released18 June 2002 (DVD, 1 CD)
2003 (1 CD)
2009 (2 CD)
2011 (Blu-ray)
Recorded22 November 2001
VenueHeineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands
GenreProgressive rock, symphonic rock
Length194:00 (DVD): 76:43 (single CD)
Label
DirectorAubrey Powell
ProducerPerry Joseph
Yes chronology
Magnification
(2001)
Symphonic Live
(2002)
Yesspeak
(2004)
Yes chronology
Symphonic Live
(2002)
In a Word: Yes (1969–)
(2002)

Keyboardist Rick Wakeman was invited by the band to perform at this concert, but this did not happen because of scheduling conflicts. In his place was Tom Brislin.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic      [1]
PopMatters6/10 [2]

Alan Ranta of PopMatters gave Symphonic Live a mixed review, saying that "by the time they recorded this concert in 2001, their age had begun to show" and that "Symphonic Live is a solid set, but it won’t be converting a new generation of fans".[2] In a review for AllMusic, Bret Adams gave the album 3.5 stars out of five and wrote that it "takes some time to settle into a groove, but it eventually does" and that "the sweeping musical twists and turns are simply stunning, and they are skillfully executed by both Yes and the orchestra".[1]

Since the band was playing very well together in the filmed shows, guitarist Steve Howe believes that Symphonic Live is "possibly the best Yes DVD available".[3]

Track listing

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DVD 1 – Main Program
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Overture" 2:30
2."Close to the Edge"
  • I. "The Solid Time of Change"
  • II. "Total Mass Retain"
  • III. "I Get Up, I Get Down"
  • IV. "Seasons of Man"
Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman20:30
3."Long Distance Runaround"Anderson, Squire, Bruford, Howe, Wakeman5:29
4."Don't Go"Anderson, Howe, Squire, Alan White4:29
5."In the Presence Of"
  • I. "Deeper"
  • II. "Death of Ego"
  • III. "True Beginner"
  • IV. "Turn Around and Remember"
  • Anderson, Squire, Howe, White11:04
    6."The Gates of Delirium"Anderson, Howe, Squire, White, Patrick Moraz23:30
    7."Steve Howe Guitar Solo"
  • Lute Concerto in D, 2nd Movement
  • "Mood for a Day"
  • Vivaldi (arr. Howe), Howe6:26
    8."Starship Trooper"
  • a. "Life Seeker"
  • b. "Disillusion"
  • c. "Würm"
  • Anderson, Howe, Squire12:18
    9."Magnification"Anderson, Howe, Squire, White7:23
    10."And You and I"
  • I. "Cord of Life"
  • II. "Eclipse"
  • III. "The Preacher, The Teacher"
  • IV. "Apocalypse"
  • Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire, Wakeman11:16
    11."Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)"Anderson, Howe, Squire, White, Wakeman28:21
    12."I've Seen All Good People"
  • a. "Your Move"
  • b. "All Good People"
  • Anderson, Squire7:21
    13."Owner of a Lonely Heart"Trevor Rabin, Trevor Horn, Squire, Anderson5:49
    14."Roundabout"Anderson, Squire, Bruford, Howe, Wakeman6:28
    DVD 2 – Bonus Material
    No.TitleLength
    1."Don't Go Music Video"4:28
    2."Dreamtime Documentary"31:51

    CD (1 disc)

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    Track listing
    No.TitleWriter(s)Length
    1."Overture"Groupe2:53
    2."Close to the Edge"
    • I. "The Solid Time of Change"
    • II. "Total Mass Retain"
    • III. "I Get Up, I Get Down"
    • IV. "Seasons of Man"
    Anderson, Howe20:04
    3."Orchestral Intro"Groupe1:19
    4."Long Distance Runaround"Anderson4:30
    5."Don't Go"Anderson, Howe, Squire, White4:24
    6."Starship Trooper"
  • a. "Life Seeker"
  • b. "Disillusion"
  • c. "Würm"
  • Anderson, Howe, Squire12:21
    7."And You and I"
  • I. "Cord of Life"
  • II. "Eclipse"
  • III. "The Preacher, The Teacher"
  • IV. "Apocalypse"
  • Anderson, themes by Bruford, Howe, Squire11:23
    8."I've Seen All Good People"
  • a. "Your Move"
  • b. "All Good People"
  • Anderson, Squire7:24
    9."Owner of a Lonely Heart"Rabin, Horn, Squire, Anderson6:02
    10."Roundabout"Anderson, Howe6:23

    CD (2 disc)

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    Disc one

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    1. "Overture"
    2. "Close To The Edge"
      I. "The Solid Time of Change"
      II. "Total Mass Retain"
      III. "I Get Up, I Get Down"
      IV. "Seasons of Man"
    3. "Long Distance Runaround"
    4. "Don't Go"
    5. "In The Presence Of"
      I. "Deeper"
      II. "Death of Ego"
      III. "True Beginner"
      IV. "Turn Around and Remember"
    6. "The Gates of Delirium"
    7. "Steve Howe Guitar Solo"
      I. Lute Concerto in D, 2nd Movement
      II. "Mood for a Day"

    Disc two

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    1. "Starship Trooper"
      I. "Life Seeker"
      II. "Disillusion"
      III. "Würm"
    2. "Magnification"
    3. "And You and I"
      I. "Cord of Life"
      II. "Eclipse" (Anderson, Bruford, Squire)
      III. "The Preacher, The Teacher"
      IV. "Apocalypse"
    4. "Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil)"
    5. "I've Seen All Good People"
      I. "Your Move"
      II. "All Good People"
    6. "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
    7. "Roundabout"

    Personnel

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    Yes

    • Jon Anderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
    • Steve Howe – guitars, lap steel guitar, backing vocals
    • Chris Squire – bass guitar, backing vocals, harmonica, percussion
    • Alan White – drums, backing vocals, piano

    Additional musicians

    • Tom Brislin – keyboards, backing vocals, percussion
    • European Festival Orchestra
    • Wilhelm Keitel – conductor

    Production

    • Perry Joseph – producer
    • Aubrey Powell – director
    • Bob Cesca – cover art and package design
    • Geoff Kempin – executive producer
    • Terry Shand – executive producer
    • Jordan Berliant – co-executive producer
    • John Gaydon – production executive

    Certifications

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    Certifications for Symphonic Live DVD
    Region Certification Certified units/sales
    Canada (Music Canada)[4] Platinum 10,000^

    ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

    References

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    1. ^ a b Adams, Bret. "Symphonic Live [DVD/Blu-Ray] - Yes". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
    2. ^ a b Ranta, Alan (21 April 2009). "Yes: Symphonic Live | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
    3. ^ Howe, Steve (2021). All My Yesterdays. Omnibus Press. p. 221. ISBN 9781785581793.
    4. ^ "Canadian video certifications – Yes – Symphonic Live". Music Canada. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2019.