HUNGARIAN HORIZONS - LIVE IN BUDAPEST

Such a good live record, for a remarkable DVD dated 2003 (the live concert was recorded on 2002). It was an important music event perfomed in Hungary and its peculiarity is the combination of classical music (played by means of a tasteful acoustic guitar) along with different features regarding the old symphonic tracks by Genesis (from "The Lamb.." and "Selling England..." Era of the Seventies). Well Steve Hackett performed all those unforgettable tunes with the support of interesting keyboards by Roger King...especially some important composers like Vivaldi, Satie or Giuliani are the classical main covers by S. Hackett at his classical guitar; but you cannot forget other modern tunes like "Jacuzzi" or the melodic and commercial composition by GTR....Obviously I prefer his classical approach here (think of the famous tune "Bourée" by J.S. Bach), but the relaxing mood is often replaced and you can find this way the aggressive style of his solo albums, in a "hot" dialogue with the careful Hungarian listener. For me the most balanced track is "Ace Of Wands", another ever-green and perhaps one of his best performances ever...but of course you won't forget the fantastic guitar solo within "Firth of Fifth" in the version equal to "Genesis revisited", even though I would have appreciated the execution of an immortal song like "Fountain of Salmacis", whose best arrangement is right inside the previous mentioned "Genesis Revisited". Nevermind, the present DVD could be an important "Testament" regarding the long live career of the famous British guitarist.

Recommended!