Customer Reviews

Yanni - Tribute

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I didn't know what to expect when I put this DVD in my player. I had never heard Yanni's music before but my brother told me it was a MUST HAVE. So I got myself a copy too and let me tell you that this is a MASTERPIECE! Yanni breaks borders and boundaries in this remarkable concert filmed in India's Taj Mahal and Beijing's Forbidden City. All the musicians are truly gifted and there performances really add something special to Yanni's compositions. If your looking for the ULTIMATE concert DVD look no further! A previous reviewer complained that there is a slight pause (or "freeze" if you prefer) during one of the songs. This is because the disc is DUAL LAYERED with the layer change occurring right on the beginning of the 4th song. It is quite a good change that doesn't interfere with the overall flow.

With the Concert and Additional documentary spread over a dual layered disc the results are a superb picture quality that is clean and sharp. I won't complain that it isn't widescreen because what we get here is a high definition fullscreen picture free of noticeable defects. The Sound is also incredible! Included is both Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks that are clear and well defined (and not "over cooked" as one reviewer claimed). Also included is the documentary "No Borders, No Boundaries" which takes an intriguing behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of Tribute and Yanni's travels throughout these two fascinating countries. Bonus features also include a recent interview with Yanni and footage of the artist at work in his state-of-the-art recording studio.

Overall this disc is reference material even down to the animated menu's that are some of the best I've seen! You have to get this DVD and witness the musical genius that is Yanni!!

Already owning the CD and the video, I was glad I could buy the DVD version of Tribute. Deliverance is without a doubt the best track on this DVD, combining great rhythms, string orchestra, chants by the female vocalists and marvellous melodies and native instruments into a beautiful composition. This track alone is more than worth the price of the DVD.
Adagio In G Minor is a very soundtrack-like piece with piano and string orchestra. Renegade is sort of a soprano saxophone/violin duet.
Dance With A Stranger is a piece where various instruments play a short solo. A very relaxed and laid-back piece. Tribute is another highlight with vocals in the intro, followed by some beautiful violin playing accompanied by a choir. Very classical oriented.
Prelude a short piece with native instruments. After a couple of minutes this piece goes into Love is All, which is one of the two only tracks with lyrics on the album. Accompanied by Spanish guitar this is a rather radio-friendly tune with great soulful vocals and the full choir.Southern Exposure starts another laid back tune with female backing vocals, saxophone and violin. Later on in the song things get more rhythmic and swinging with nice interplay between the violins and female vocalists. Next in line is Waltz In 7/8 then. Great piece of work with flutes, latin influences and a keyboard solo. Nightingale is probably one of the quietest songs on the DVD.It features some bird like flute-playing with a slight Japanese feeling. Of course the big string orchestra is present as well.
Niki Nana (We're One) starts with the native sounds of a didgeridoo. After about half a minute the electric band picks up, a flute plays and the vocalists start. Marvellous song. In addition to the CD version the DVD and video version end with the track Santorini, from the Live at the Acropolis album, which equals the track Deliverance for me in giving me goose bumps all over my body. The DVD as well as the video contains also "the making of" and this part is really well worth watching because it shows more of the ecstatic reactions of the audience itself and gives you insight in Yannis life. The whole show itself is a pleasure to watch. The fun the members of the band have in performing their music is great to see and gets you in a good mood as well.The only thing I see as a disappointment is the fact that the DVD was not released in the Dolby 5.1 surround mode. That could have lifted up the experience in seeing, hearing and feeling this music to the ultimate top.

This is one of my all-time favorite music DVD's. There are so many reasons why this is a great show to watch. The music is all original, written by Yanni and played by a proffessional symphony orchestra. The setting is in both India's Taj Mahal and the Forbidden City in China. It was the first live concert ever played in the two settings, and there was a lot of red tape that the producers had to go through in order to get the authority to play in front of these monuments.

Also featured are violinist Karen Briggs and woodwind instrumentalist Pedro Eustache. Both are superb improvisational soloists and really add to the entertainment factor of the show. There are also four female singers, all of whom are excellent in their own way, and are featured both as soloists and providing background harmony.

Yanni's talent, along with being a prolific pianist, composer and arranger, is bringing great musicians together and directing them in a way to fully exploit each musicians unique and individual sound. His band contains musicians from all over the globe, and is something of a "United Nations" band.

For these reasons, I enjoyed this DVD much more than any other Yanni's other material. Most of his albums that I have heard thus far are just him playing, using synthesizers and drum machines to try to get the sound that he wants. Where this gives him the opportunity to explore the art of composing, there is nothing like hearing the music come alive with real musicians and orchestrations of what he wants to do.

I also compare this album to "Live at the Acropolis," and feel that buying this DVD would be a much better purchase. I think that Yanni's music was still in the developmental stage when he recorded at the Acropolis; with "Tribute," he has had a chance to try things out, and this is the culmination of all his years of hard work as a composer and arranger. I don't know if Yanni himself will be able to top this performance, let alone any other musician.

Having had the opportunity to see this music performed live 12 times and having met almost all of the musicians, I enjoy this video to the max. The musicians enjoy what they are doing and it really shows. I have played it so many times, I have just about worn it out. The music can soothe on a rough day and energize on a tired day. This man's music has magical qualities for me and for many other listeners. The Emmy Nominated lighting designs on this video are wonderful. They truly worked magic at these two magnificent sites. David Kaniski and Lee Rose did a spectacular job. The lighting really enhances the music. Creates a mood even before the first note sounds (check out Dance with a Stranger).

Looking forward to more work from Yanni and his magnificent musical entourage.

Linda C.

I saw this DVD for the first time last night and was sorry I waited so long that it seemed like a "time travel" experience (it was produced in 1997). This DVD not only has Taj Mahal and Forbidden City concerts on it, but it has added bonuses of an entire length documentary related to how the concerts came about, the musicians feelings about visiting China and India, and a separate interview segment with Yanni who shares his incredible home studio with the viewers. (Viewers please note: The documentary, "No Boundries or Borders" so very well done, is located on the menu that comes up at the end of the concert's credits and is not found on the main opening menu.)

The quality of this DVD is superior to Yanni's previous Acropolis DVD (I recommend video only for that one). The DVD is an absolute jewel. The musicians, who were handpicked by Yanni from all over the world, are simply magnificant! I especially enjoyed "Dance with a Stranger," "Love is All" and "Niki Nana." The female vocalists are supurb. It is a very exciting concert that flashes back and forth between China and India's audiences. The music is so dramatic, that you'd expect to hear it in an Oscar winning movie!

This DVD is a piece of world history. It is the best value I've ever seen in a DVD. The documentary alone is worth the price of this DVD! Yanni made history with these performances and you will never find another DVD like this one -- ever! The man is a miracle, plain and simple. I'm waiting for Yanni's next performance on Mars, the moon - who knows what idea he'll come up with next.

What a wonderful concert video set in two magical places in the world and, if you are a fan of New Age music, the tunes and the playing do not get much better than this. It was great to see audiences very different from those we always see react to beautiful music and superb entertainment. How about David Hudson, eh?; what a guy!!! The sound of the 'duduk' will always haunt me... Yanni, please use this instrument more in your music!

Having been so effusive in praise of this DVD's content why am I giving it only 4 stars? That is just to tell the dumb marketing person who decided to release the pan and scan version, instead of a widescreen and anamorphic version, what a wonderful opportunity was missed by trying to save a few dollars. Actually, both P&S and widescreen versions could have been released on the same disc! Imagine viewing the Taj Mahal and the Forbidden City in a widescreen vista!! How nicely that would have set off Yanni's orchestra! The original video quality would have been excellent (I own the VHS version also) so making an anamorphic version should have been a cinch. May I remind the marketing person, too, that the demographic of those who might watch this video would include lots of more mature people with a good deal of money and the financial power to buy widescreen TVs. Lastly, I have no complaints about the DD 5.1 sound mix.

Since I watched once luckily his live concert at Acropolis from TV, I've been a BIG fan of Yanni. I was not a real fan just when I listened to his previous CD albums. Before the Acropolis live, his music was mainly performed by synthesizers, which I didn't like and enjoy.

I love his two video albums. Even my mom and dad aged 71 to 72 enjoy the videos, saying "Yanni is a very talented musician" whenever they see them. I think "Tribute" is somewhat differrent from the first one. I like his new efforts made to this video. And I like the vocalists and other musicians including Van Johnson and Karen Briggs. Yanni is a genius. I'm waiting for his new video albums with a burning desire. How about DVD?

This Tribute dvd by Yanni is truly a masterpiece. The quality is excellent and believe me you will want to see it over and and over again. The music is totally out of this world!!

Whenever you're down,it cheers you up. Whenever you're happy,it makes you fly. I have been watching Yanni's video again and again. My whole family enjoys it. Hope to buy a copy in DVD format and squeeze every single note to its fullest.

Even those who are generally not moved by music will love this video. It is filled with energy! Yanni so obviously loves his music, and his spirit flows through his orchestra which is composed of talent from all over the world! One of the few music videos I would ever buy, or watch again and again. The music crosses the lines of ages and style. END