I'd give that one a C-. Must try harder! Maybe the worst one I've heard actually.
The following night in Milan had a great final solo as well...
C- is rather generous for this effort! In fact I have not heard any TR on this tour that is anywhere near as good as the ones from 2010! I would rather he drop TR and bring back Sultans!
Val ?? I'm quite puzzled by this statement, have you heard TR from Istanbul a few days ago ? the final solo is great and much faster than any 2010 version I heard !
Hi Herlock! Yes, Istanbul was very good and certainly fast, but it didn't have nearly the beautiful phrasing (I don't know the word to describe it) as the ones I heard at, particularly, Manchester and Bournemouth in 2010. Fast is not always best - there are other factors to consider, but Istanbul is probably the best of this tour - so far!
Hey Superval,
I agree with you, faster does not always mean better: the OES versions in 91/92 were the fastest ever, yet I don't find them to be the best ever at all: certainly very technically impressive, but feel too "rushed", too much pedal steel and saxophone, but no intro, and not enough emotion compared to say, Alchemy, the reference version.
To me the best versions ever were in 1996/2001/2005 - the best compromise between energy and passion...
Still, I was sooo pleasantly surprised this year with the renewed energy. Listening to Istanbul end solo I almost feel to be back in 2005 after the slowdown of 2008/2010 ! Still, after listening again to Lyon 2005 (another reference version), I realize that we are not (yet ?) at 2005 standards...
And this "karaoke mode" after "rolling rover" that Mark has been indulging into since 2008 is simply unbearable !
Compared to 2010 another bothers me this year, the end solo is faster but shorther. And the increase in pace cannot alone explain the difference in time (nearly a minute). Some verses must have been shortened...
Oh well. Still hope to have a DVD/Blu-Ray this year, to have at least an alternate version of TR on video, other than Alchemy which is great but too much heard. And to get at last WII, HFB, Marbetown, Crows (I really hope !), Piper (same !) of video will be a real long-awaited treat.