Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Concert > Rock > Progressive Rock > Rick Wakeman – The Six Wives Of Henry VIII: Live At Hampton Court Palace (2009/Eagle Blu-ray)

Rick Wakeman – The Six Wives Of Henry VIII: Live At Hampton Court Palace (2009/Eagle Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B     Extras: C+     Concert: B

 

 

Though all the members of Yes have had interesting solo careers and become part of many other interesting projects, Wakeman may be their Paul McCartney having the longest and most formidable solo career as one of the all-time kings of the Keyboard.  Chief among his greatest accomplishments is his epic album The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1973) that remains among his most popular.  36 years later in Spring 2009, he decided to record a major concert version in HD on Henry’s 500th Anniversary and the result is the very entertaining Live At Hampton Court Palace concert.

 

With a great choir, great band of musicians and enough keyboards at Wakeman’s disposal to practically cause a nuclear detonation, he plays the album and all of its intricacies (you can see him play with his eyes closed often and never miss a note) in this grand concert that is one of the best on Blu-ray to date from anyone.  Topping it all off, the great character actor Brian Blessed (the 1980 Flash Gordon, original Avengers, Black Adder, Disney’s Tarzan, Odin in the upcoming Thor film) recites all the narration live in front of the audience as no one else can.

 

It is also the chance to see Wakeman, one of the greatest musicians of all time at the continued height of his powers.  He was a genius when he started and is now a master (fans would say the master) of his realm of music.  That is hard to disagree with and this work is so complex (deceptively simple indeed) that it is worthy of comparison to a major elongated classical or jazz composition.  I hope this gives him more respect and admiration, plus inspires musicians worldwide.  For home theater and serious music fans, this Blu-ray is a must.

 

The 1080i 1.78 X 1 image is colorful and has its moments, but can be soft more than expected for a new production, but the editing and directing are a big plus.  The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 mix is the best choice here for the sound and it sounds good, if not always consistently so.  Blessed’s narration is clean and clear, but the soundfield is not always 100% all the time, but is fine more often than not.  We also get Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM 16/48 2.0 Stereo tracks, but they are not as good as the DTS.  Extras include a booklet inside the case with extensive essays and info on the concert, while the Blu-ray itself has an on-camera interview with Wakeman at the top of his game, as usual.

 

 

For more Wakeman solo and in other projects, try this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5858/The+Other+Side+Of+Rick+Wakeman/A

 

 

For Wakeman in High Definition and with Yes, try this link to the 2003 Montreux concert on Blu-ray:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5731/Yes+%E2%80%93+Live+At+Montreux

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com