Yanni Live at the Acropolis

Yanni Live at the Acropolis, is the name of both an album and video by contemporary instrumental musician Yanni, recorded live at the Herodes Atticus Theatre, Athens, Greece, on September 25, 1993, and released in 1994. (see 1994 in music and 1994 in film). This album peaked at #1 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #5 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year.¹ The film received an Emmy nomination in 1994 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries or a Special".²

In a three-year television deal with PBS, the live television special was one of the top fundraising subjects for PBS,³ raising $13 million, with more than 750,000 home videos and more than 7 million albums sold worldwide.⁴ It has been seen in 65 countries by half a billion people, has almost continuously remained on the charts since its release, and is the second best-selling music video of all time.⁵⁶

The composition, Acroyali/Standing in Motion, from this album, was determined to have the "Mozart Effect", by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine because it was similar to Mozart's K 448 in tempo, structure, melodic and harmonic consonance and predictability.)⁷⁸

The corresponding concert tour of the year was "Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1994".

History

This was Yanni's first live album and utilizes the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra under the supervision of conductor Shardad Rohani, in addition to his core band. Yanni said, "Ever since I left Greece more than two decades ago, it has been my dream to return and perform at the Acropolis. This project took more than a year and a half to plan and accomplish, and I would like to thank my band and crew, and the scores of people involved in helping my dream become a reality".⁹

In a 2004 interview, drummer Charlie Adams was asked to point out which shows stood out in his mind in the last 25+ years of working with Yanni. Adams replied, "Obviously the most exciting one for me was Live at the Acropolis. Playing in front of over 10,000 people every night, right below the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The thing that made it so exciting was it was the first time for Yanni to be playing at home in front of his fellow Greek citizens it made you feel warm in the heart for him. Also, I was playing a drum solo in front of a majority of people who did not speak English yet responded to my drums, I really felt that the drums communicated with them, you know. Like drumming and music is in fact an international language. A great experience that will stay with me the rest of my life." ¹⁰ Similarly, keyboardist Bradley Joseph recounts, "When I reflect back over the years, one of the high points that stand out include performing at the Acropolis with Yanni. Imagine all these different cultures coming together with the challenges of language, equipment, travel, and weather problems. I still picture the police running their dogs through the dressing rooms to sniff out any bomb possibilities right before the show. People still come up to me and comment how that show has affected their lives."¹¹ From this appearance and others with Yanni, violinist Karen Briggs gained the title "The Lady in Red".¹²

Critical reception

Reviewing for Allmusic, Jonathan Widran writes, "It's no surprise that Yanni is most identified with this amazingly powerful experience (also presented as one of PBS' most popular concerts ever), because it seems like the musical project he was most destined to make. After making millions stateside, he returns to the historic ancient Acropolis of his Greek homeland to share his sweeping music with his countrymen. One of the most impressive aspects of Yanni in this live setting is the way his beautiful piano passages blend with the occasional boom of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Shardad Rohani)."¹³

"Santorini"

"'Santorini' epitomizes the musical balance, opening with several minutes of percussive string fanfare, then allowing Yanni to be simply expressive on the acoustic piano as the orchestra tones down and provides a caress of accompaniment", states Widran¹³

"Keys to Imagination"

"Even songs like 'Keys to the Imagination', which are played on synth, are taken to more emotional levels with the dramatic swells of the orchestra."¹³

"Acroyali/Standing in Motion"

This composition "...begins with atmosphere and chime effects, then evolves into an adventurous orchestral and synth explosion more ambitious than anything Yanni has attempted on his studio recordings".¹³ (This composition was also determined to have the "Mozart Effect", by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine because it was similar to Mozart's K 448 in tempo, structure, melodic and harmonic consonance and predictability.)⁷⁸

"Nostalgia"

from the album Yanni Live at the Acropolis

Problems listening to the files? See media help.

Widran goes on to say, "Whereas it's easy to complain that his studio recordings are over-reliant on synthesized strings, here it's the real deal. 'Santorini' epitomizes the musical balance, opening with several minutes of percussive string fanfare, then allowing Yanni to be simply expressive on the acoustic piano as the orchestra tones down and provides a caress of accompaniment. 'Until the Last Moment' flows along tenderly with the same effect. Even songs like 'Keys to the Imagination', which are played on synth, are taken to more emotional levels with the dramatic swells of the orchestra. The concert features its share of familiar tunes ('Swept Away', 'Reflections of Passion'), but surprises in spots with more drawn out, thoughtful dishes of exotica like '[Acroyali]/Standing in Motion', which begins with atmosphere and chime effects, then evolves into an adventurous orchestral and synth explosion more ambitious than anything Yanni has attempted on his studio recordings. The sticker on the original disc release also informs listeners that it's recorded in 48-track digital sound. The same sticker calls it the event of a lifetime. It's an amazing concert, but more the core event of Yanni's life and career than anyone listening to this recording."¹³

Album

This album peaked at #1 on "Billboard's "Top New Age Albums" chart and at #5 on the "Billboard 200" chart in the same year.¹

Track listing

RIAA certification

Film

The film version, released in 1994, was broadcast throughout the U.S. on public television and was one of the top fundraising subjects for PBS.³ It was seen in 65 countries by half a billion people,³ and has almost continuously remained on the charts since its release and is the second best-selling music video of all time,⁵ selling more than 7 million copies worldwide.⁶

The video production received an Emmy nomination in 1994 for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries or a Special". This accomplishment was credited to Lee Rose (lighting director/designer), Richard Ocean (lighting director/designer), and David 'Gurn' Kaniski (lighting director/designer).²

Katie Tamms of Allmovie writes, "Before a sold-out crowd on September 24, 1993, new age musical artist Yanni, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, performed the first of three historic concerts at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Himself a native of Kalamata, Greece, Yanni had returned to perform in his homeland after more than 20 years in America. This video production, headed by award-winning director George Veras, includes a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the live video, as well as backstage interviews with Yanni and some of his musical entourage."¹⁶

Track listing

RIAA certification

Personnel

Band

Production

References

^ ^a ^b "Chart history for Yanni Live at the Acropolis". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
^ ^a ^b "Imdb Emmy Award listing". imdb.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Windham Hill". Windham.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
^ "Veras Communications". .verastv.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
^ ^a ^b "Yanni Career Highlights" (PDF). Yanni.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
^ ^a ^b "Official biography". Yanni.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
^ ^a ^b Yanni; Rensin, David (2002). Yanni in Words, Miramax Books. pp.67. ISBN 1-4013-5194-8.
^ ^a ^b "The Mozart Effect". epilepsy.org. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
^ (1994) Album notes for Yanni Live at the Acropolis by Yanni [CD liner]. Private Music.
^ "2004 Interview with Charlie Adams". chipritter.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
^ Bio from: Joseph, Bradley (2000). Solo Journey Intermediate Piano Book, Bradley Joseph Publishing.
^ "Karen Briggs bio at NPR". npr.org. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Widran, Jonathan. "Review of Yanni Live at the Acropolis". Allmusic. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
^ ^a ^b "Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold and Platinum searchable database". RIAA.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
^ "RIAA News Room May 1, 1998 Yanni's "Live At The Acropolis" album hit the four million mark while the video on Private Music was awarded multi-Platinum status at 600,000 units". RIAA.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
^ Tamms, Katie. "Review of Yanni Live at the Acropolis". Allmovie. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
^ Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1994 - Official concert program. 1994.

Contents

History

Critical reception

Album

Track listing

RIAA certification

Film

Track listing

RIAA certification

Personnel

Band

Production

References

External links