SYMPHONIC LIVE (DVD)

I fully agree with all the praise that has been heaped on this DVD. A superb program featuring no less than three of Yes' most ambitious 'epics', all expertly performed, with some help from a youthful orchestra. And to top it all, both "And You and I" and "Starship Trooper" sound more gorgeous, more triumphant than on any other live CD (even if Jon's voice is a little tired on the latter). I don't even mind the 'encore' of "Roundabout" (a tune I'm usually not too crazy about): the band are in great spirits, even Steve Howe (finally) smiles.

For me, Howe is the 'mystery man' of this recording. Having seen Yes play live only once, in 1977, I'm amazed he seems totally detached from the rest of the band. He makes no eye contact with anyone, is fully absorbed in playing his solo part, and whenever Chris Squire comes over to him, hoping to strike a few brotherly rock 'n' roll poses, Steve ignores him completely. On many of the tunes (CTTE and "Delirum" for example), Steve's lead guitar now sounds twangier, jazzier than before. To tell you the truth, I miss some of the old sustain.

If you want to see the band in their glory days, you're better off with a copy of LIVE AT GPR. There, the sound of Steve's lead guitar suddenly disappears at times (not during crucial solos, fortunately), and you're stuck with Jon's pedestian rhythm guitar, but you still know which notes you're supposed to hear, and it's simply amazing to see something I'd always wanted to see: Yes anno 1975, in their glory days, when they were young, ambitious - and even beautiful.