Customer Reviews

Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir

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3 star:		(2)
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Just when you might have thought that Gary Brooker and company had decided to pack it in, here they come again with their most satisfying DVD to date. Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir is not just aurally and visually spectacular, it is essential listening and viewing for any Procol Harum fan.
So you look at the playlist and say to yourself that you have heard it all before. Well, no you haven't. That is because there are fresh arrangements to old favorites that will just stun you and the way the band meshes with the orchestra and choir is a joy to hear. Then there is the setting of the grounds of Ledreborg Castle that assures you that you are experiencing something culturally important.
Its tough to select favorites since every song is nearly flawlessly performed, but there are some highlights: the oft-disparaged Something Magic is powerfully transformed here; the new arrangement for Homburg oozes sophistication; The VIP Room comes alive in a way you can't imagine; Fires ( Which Burnt Brightly) fairly outshines the original; Nothing But the Truth stirs the soul and the crowd; A Salty Dog assumes a new majesty; An Old English Dream brings a new appreciation for its lyrical power; and a fresh take on A Whiter Shade of Pale will leave you agape. The biggest surprise is a tour de force performance of the rare Sympathy For the Hard of Hearing which is given additional heft by Brooker's comments on the song before its performance. The encore songs, Whaling Stories and Conquistador wind up the show in grand fashion.
That is not all. Those who buy this DVD are treated to an intimate live performance of six mid-period songs filmed for Danish TV in 1974. Each song is a gem and the players at that time include the legendary B J Wilson on drums. You could not ask for better value.
On this DVD, Brooker and company prove that Procol Harum is a band for the ages. Working closely with the Danish orchestra and choir, many of whose members have never before played rock music, you'll hear that the band has achieved the level of musical maturity they always seemed destined for. And it brings the Danes a measure of international exposure and respect they might not otherwise have found. The DVD package includes an attractive booklet containing interesting commentary and lots of excellent photography. Get it soon, you'll be watching often.

Yes Indeed Procol continue to amaze those whom have followed their legacy which is vast in scope and depth. After presenting us with the grand Union Chapel Concert DVD in 2004 this 2006 followup finds the group in a much elegant setting with the Danish National Orchestra filmed on location in the majestic town of Lejre in Copenhagen. First the set list which is vast and envelops the statistic of legendary proportions:
1. Grand Hotel
2. Something Magic
3. Butterfly Boys
4. Homburg ( Brilliant!)
5. The VIP Room
6. Fires (Which Burnt Brightly)
7. Nothing But the Truth
8. Into the Flood (New)
9. Simple Sister
10. A Salty Dog ( Chilling!)
11. An Old English Dream
12. Sympathy for the Hard of Hearing ( From Brookers 1982: Lead Me to the Water, unfortunately out of print!)
13. A Whiter Shade of Pale
14. Whaling Stories
15. Conquistador

BONUS FEATURES!
1974 Dutch TV Special never aired outside of Denmark
1. Bringing Home the Bacon
2. Toujours L'Amour
3. Grand Hotel
4. The Devil Came From Kansas
5. The Idol
6. Butterfly Boys

Includes the late great B.J. Wilson on drums

What can be said to enhance the legendary music of Procol Harum? My salute and praises can be read on my review of the Union Chapel DVD.Procol Harum - Live at the Union Chapel
What brings to mind is this music can never define a period of history or culture for Procol is eternally transcendent and the scope of work is always fresh and speaks to the current times. If only those who have never ventured within the vastness of greatness will but sip the wine, alas to be drunk for ever.
Again, a quality offering from Brooker and company amongst cellos, violins and string sections in 2006 as once ventured in 1972 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Yes indeed friends, This is one gigantic magical beast that roams the planet undiscovered and swallowed into the eternal.
Nicely done Boys! I await the next chapter........

The concert`s visuals and sound are spectacular. after 2 "tentative" dvds, live in Copenhagen and live at the Union Chapel (both good and very good, respectively), Gary & band reach majestic heights with this concert.
Fresh arrangements bring a new vitality to the songs that I thought Procol had lost with the passage of time, very energetic playing specially in the guitar and drums department(by Geoff and Mark)with the Commander`s voice in fine form for the occasion.
if you like good music superbly played in a fantastic place, then go and buy the DVD, you won`t regret it

This one is by far the best PH DVD yet. The Danish symphony and choir add tremendous depth to the already great music. The audio fidelity is outstanding, offering both DTS and Dolby 5.1 (Dolby is better) and the video quality is crisp with great production qualities. Any serious music fan should have this one in the collection. For the PH fan - it is a religious experience.

A perfect performance in a beautiful country by a world class act.
A selection of superb music composed by Gary Brooker which is complimented by eloquent lyrics by Keith Reid that spans 40 years of a professional partnership performed by Procol Harum's virtuoso musicians. Imagine a symphony orchestra and choir masterly weaved in and out of the majestic music performance of classic songs, such as "Whiter Shade of Pale", "Grand Hotel" and the not so often performed but nevertheless inspiring "Into the Flood" and "Sympathy For The Hard Of Hearing"
I was fortunate to attend the concert and this DVD is an aural and visual treasure.

I have many DVDs of rock bands performing with orchestras and/or choirs. None of them come anywhere close to the quality of the sound found here. There are clear reasons for this described in the wonderful booklet that accompanies the DVD. Most orchestras are recorded by a grid of overhead microphones that do not serve to separate the various instruments. Choirs are usually recorded in similar fashion. But NOT here. Each member of the symphony was close miked with their own individual microphone and fed into the board on their own channel, so that when the band's bassist asked the sound man for more oboe in his ear piece, the sound man asked back, "Which oboeist?" Each member of the choir had their own high quality hand mike, affording a similar advantage. The sound is simply fantastic from the orchestra and choir.

Also fantastic is the sound from the band although the mix puts the Commander's vocals and piano, the drummer and the guitarist quite high in the mix compared to the organ and bass, but Gary Brooker plays and sings so brilliantly that you want him high in the mix.

If you need a single example of how this all comes together just give a listen to A Salty Dog. This is probably my favorite Procol song. Brooker was, I believe, 62 years old when this was recorded and one could excuse him on that basis if his voice wasn't what it used to be, but it remains absolutely fantastic.

The part of this song after the line "Our tears were tears of joy" is possibly my favorite moment in any song by any band ever. The arrangement of the orchestra/choir during this section will raise the hairs on your neck and cover your skin with goose pimples. And the Commanders singing is hugely powerful. This one tune is worth the price of the entire DVD, but there are many, many more major highlights, with Grand Hotel coming in a close second.

This DVD is one for the ages. It is a must hear for Procol fans and it would be a great way for those not familiar with their great music to be introduced.

The record arrived yesterday. I should have been at work not later than at 11:00 for a meeting with my Ph.D. student. I wasn't. I only wanted to have quick look at Gary Brooker after the breakfast and then run to school. But I could not stop watching. The concert is pure magic both musically and technically. Do not take my word for it. Turn on your system, put the record on and play the first piece, the Grand Hotel, and you will see what I mean. In this concert everything else is also great: Gary at his best, charming and immortal, the conductor with his top-notch musicians (do notice the outstanding violinist in Grand Hotel!) and the unbelievable quality of sound recording that equals the studio one. All of these left me speechless. I called the student with apologies for being late and I told her the reason. She said she understood. I doubt it. But I don't care.

This is another great example of the unique ability of Procol Harum to successfully merge rock music with classical. This great concert is well captured in the DVD, the orchestra sounds superb and the new arrangements by Brooker just prove again that the man's a genius, I only wish I would have been there, but this is the next best thing. On the negative- no Matthew Fisher, or BJ Wilson(RIP) but their substitutes are quite good and Whitehorn rips almost exactly like Trower. The 1974 TV Special bonus is fun to watch although the sound as expected is not too good. All in all, a must have for any self-respecting Procol fan.

I recently purchased 2 Procol Harum DVDs. I believe I may have purchased the best two available. If you are familiar with this band, you will know they made great music with and without orchestras. This is Procol + orchestra at their best. Gary still sounds great! The sound quality is exceptional!

At the beginning of the concert the band is introduced as "The immortal Procol Harum." Yes they are. The performance is phenomenal. Having seen Procol Hareum countless times since the early seventies I have never heard Gary Brooker's voice in better form. The only thing lacking is the absence of the late great B.J. Wilson on drums. This video was worth every cent I spent to own it and I will watch it until it wears out or I do.