Yes Symphonic Live

If I may draw upon the title of the five-decade spanning progressive rock band Yes's recently released retrospective boxed set In a Word, this is the definitive Yes concert DVD to date (even with the notable absence of keyboardist Rick Wakeman). Joined by the young and vibrant European Festival Orchestra in Amsterdam in 2001, Anderson, Howe, Squire and White (with Tom Brislin on keyboards) serve up a nearly three-hour 13-song set, mixing hits ("Roundabout," "Don't Go," "Owner of a Lonely Heart"), standards ("Long Distance Runaround," "Starship Trooper," "I've Seen All Good People"), and longer signature pieces ("Close to the Edge," "Gates of Delirium," "Ritual") in a rich, seamless performance presented here in pristine Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Having caught the opening night of Yes's 2002 world tour in Seattle this July, I can safely say that the band kicks out the jams very nicely without a backing orchestra, but here the strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion enhance without ever overpowering the quintet at the heart of the show. The second disc includes a rather perfunctory behind-the-scenes documentary entitled "Dreamtime," and a visually unexceptional music video of "Don't Go." Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Nov. 8, 2011—Eagle Rock, 168 min., $19.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's Yes: Symphonic Live sports a nice transfer and DTS-HD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM stereo options. Extras are identical to the DVD release, including the behind-the-scenes documentary “Dreamtime” (32 min.), and a music video of “Don't Go” (5 min.). Bottom line: an excellent prog-rock concert bows on Blu-ray at a nice price.]