DVD Review: Yngwie Johann Malmsteen: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor with the New Japan Philharmonic: Live
Published December 01, 2005
Many rock acts have taken their act to the stage with an orchestra, but I must say that I have not seen it done quite as successfully as Yngwie Malmsteen has. In most cases the bands get up and play their songs while the orchestra follows along. A good example of this would be when Metallica took to the stage with the San Francisco Philharmonic. I thought that was a good album, but it was nowhere near the level of Malmsteen's concerto.
Back in 2001, Yngwie decided to take his classically influenced playing and combine it with a full orchestra. He went to the drawing board and crafted a concerto for precisely this event. It is a wonderful piece of music that obviously plays around the guitar as its central point, yet complements the orchestra as a whole. the two meld together and become this wall of classical and rock sounds in perfect balance.
This is a different Yngwie than I am used to seeing. Over the past couple of years, I have had the opportunity to see Yngwie live, most recently, this past weekend. One thing that has always stood out was his flamboyant onstage antics. He was always swinging his guitar, or raising it to the heavens, always in leather with pointy boots and a frilly shirt, kicking in the air, all sorts of crazy stuff. For this performance, the leather and frills are there, but his presence is much more restrained. He walks out, takes a bow, and proceeds to play some incredibly precise and speedy licks.
The show not only showcases Yngwie's electric playing, but also his acoustic side. A few of the segments having him unplug and show that he cans till shred whether the strings are metal or nylon. As good as his playing is, it is only half the show. The orchestra sounds absolutely fantastic, and they are not just there to back the star attraction, but they also further their own purposes, creating this powerful wall of sound.
The camera work gets the job done as well, bringing you right into the think of the action. Get right into the orchestra as the violinists play, watch as the basses bring out the low end. More importantly we get right in on Yngwie's fretboard as his fingers fly over the strings, and impressive site, to say the least.
There is one lackluster element to this disk, that is the sound. It is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0. Obviously, the 5.1 sounds better, but it wasn't nearly as full as I would have liked. The recording is heavily guitar-centric, and that leaves the orchestra sounding a bit on the thin side.
Still, this is definitely a disk worth adding to the guitar fan's collection. It is quite an impressive concoction of classical and rock.
Recommended.
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Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about entertainment when he isn't sitting in a movie theater. He is known around the office as the "Movie Guy" and is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Interests include science fiction, horror, and metal music. His writings can be found at Draven99's Musings, as well as Film School Rejects. 
- DVD Review: Yngwie Johann Malmsteen: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in E Flat Minor with the New Japan Philharmonic: Live
- Published: December 01, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Classical, Music: Instrumental, Music: Rock, Video: Music
- Writer: Chris Beaumont
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Comments on this articleComments
Excellent Review Chris:-)
Yngwie is not only a self-taught guitar virtuoso but a excellent self-taught composer, that is why his performance is a concerto and Metallica's performance was god awful.
Mr. Malmsteen composed his first release,"Rising Out" which is the reason why that album will be a timeless piece of brilliance...
Like I've said before...Yngwie never gets any credit because people are jealous and cannot emulate his style. He is a true pioneer to the Electric Guitar in that he established the playing of the minor scale electrically. Unfortunately, he will always be overlooked as he should've made the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame...
Chris, you truly are a metal brother!!
Up the Irons!!
"he established the playing of the minor scale electrically"...?
Nice review and thanks for all the info. I might have to check out some Malmsteen now.
Yes...godoggo,
"Aside from technical prowess, distinctions of Malmsteen's guitar style include a wide, violin-like vibrato inspired by classical violinists, almost exclusive use of Fender Stratocaster guitars, and use of such minor scales as the Harmonic minor, and minor modes such as Phrygian, and Aeolian."
Yngwie Malmsteen pioneered this style of playing on an electric guitar so much so that he customized his Fender to in order to play this style with great proficiency.
"The guitars he uses are recognisable by the addition of a custom scalloped fretboard. This is similar to a regular fretboard, but with wood 'scalloped' or scooped away to form a concave shape in between the frets. Malmsteen conceived this design as a teenager while working in a music store in Stockholm, Sweden when he came across a 17th century Lute with a scalloped neck using the raised wood as frets."
The man is a genius who doesn't get the credit he deserves....
quotes taken from: >a href="http://blogcritics.org/mt/mt-comments.php?mode=red&u=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yngwie_J._Malmsteen">wikipedia
"There is one lackluster element to this disk, that is the sound. It is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0. Obviously, the 5.1 sounds better..."
Chris,
I checked his website and on the FAQs it states that you can get the CD in a 2 track "24-bit Arton" recording...Maybe that would sound better than the DVD?? Considering DVD is recorded in 96htz @ 24-bit, maybe not... Oh well, I still have to pick up his DVD.
Yngwie Malmsteen uses a scalloped fretboard for the same reason he's done most everything else in his career: because Ritchie Blackmore did it.
Sure...I can hear alot of Mr. Blackmore's influence in Yngwie's work..*Smirk* Spare me...
Ritchie Blackmore took classical guitar lessons. Yngwie Malmsteen took classical composition classes plus he taught himself how to play...Listen to the difference yourself.
As far as I know Blackmore doesnīt play guitars with scalloped fretboards. Many people compare Blackmore and Malmsteens guitar techniquies but, canīt people hear the differences between them?? Yngwie was influenced by Blackmore when he was young and that gave a certain impact on Yngwies playing but, Yngwie has taken that style millions of miles beyond Blackmores capability. What Iīm trying to say is, Yngwie has his style no matter whom his influenced of and Blackmore has his style.
BTW, very good review and I agree with you 100%
Yngwie is one of the top five greatest, in my opinion. He took mostly off of Ritchie, but also Uli Roth and Michael Schenker. I don't see anything wrong with that. He obviously did what any Great guitar player does: take what inspires, and turn it into something outstanding.
This dvd is the Event of the year it came out. The Grammy should have gone to Yngwie. Just as when the original cd came out.
" #2
Guppusmaximus
December 1, 2005
11:06 AM
Mr. Malmsteen composed his first release,"Rising Out" which is the reason why that album will be a timeless piece of brilliance..."
You meant to say: "Rising force" or "Marching Out"? I suspect Rising Force, yes sir-ree it was the foundation of neo-classical metal. Often emulated, but never duplicated! Go Yngwie!!!
If you listen hard, you can hear many Blackmore licks in Malmsteen's playing. He just plays it in one (fast) tempo without the beauty and emotion of Blackmore.
But it is a great guitarist and this is a great DVD.
Absolutely amazing!! I'm a classical lunatic and deny all any musical 'annoying' for it...but now, Yngwie is an exception!
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Nice review. There's a good chance that I will buy this now.