Mary

In Summer, just after returning from my countryhouse, I visited some Yes sites in the Internet. And I was SHOCKED to know they were going to visit Russia!! My first reaction was jumping over the room and shouting "Hooray!"
Time lasted so long before October came. And, finally, I was there, sitting in the Kremlin Palace and waiting for them to begin! It was wonderful to hear such songs as "The Gates of Delirium", "Close to the Edge" and "Ritual" (for final happiness I needed only "The Revealing Science" - by that time I was under the influence of "Topographic"). And when the crowd stood up to dance to "I've seen all good people" I felt I was in Heaven! I hardly remember my getting home after the concert...
Someone mentioned Moscow to be an expencive city - I agree entirely, for I managed to get a ticket only for row 32 - that's TOO bad... But, after all, being there was MAGICAL!!!
Many thanks to everybody who made it happen, and to Yes for being what they are, and for having written "Tales" (it changed my ideology grately), and for still existing in this world!!
I hope this wasn't the last time Yes visited Moscow!

Carlos Benavides

According to a Spanish prog fan who lives in Moscow and went to the show, the price of each ticket within the first five rows was.......$ 300 !!! Moscow is a very expensive city. He was in 10th row and paid $ 100.

The concert took place in the Concert Palace of the Kremlin (Where the Central Committee of the Communist Party used to meet). Despite the high prices and that the venue is very big, the place was completely full. I'm sure the promoter made very good money with Yes...good for him.

Scott White

This was my first ever concert outside of the US, which fit well with Yes' first in Russia. There were some equipment problems early especially with Steve. His guitar was over amplifying.

For those who have written that the orchestra has been a non-event, I disagree. This is the third show I have seen and the orchestra was integral in everyone. This orchestra was even more noticeable throughout. The transitions were very smooth.

Ritual was perfect. (except the end. "S___ Happens" - Jon Anderson October 31, 2001 - Moscow Russia)

Jon talked a lot more than I have ever heard before. He commented on it taking 30 years to play Russia. He dedicated And You And I to his wife and then went to the edge of the stage and kissed her. He commented on the new songs and asked how to say "new song" in Russian. He said someone grabbed him backstage and asked him to play starship trooper, which they did. People were yelling different songs to play such as "Changes". They complied with Ritual. Slam dunk for my choice.

The crowd was stuffy. A few cell phones went off. I was bopping to the music, no one else was. During the Clap Steve Howe tried to get everyone clapping, I was the only one. He was banging on the guitar body to no avail. Before All good people, Jon asked everyone to stand up in the middle and do the "Russian Boogaloo". When the time came he had to pry everyone up. That's when I made my move to the stage. I made it within ten rows or so, a lot of people went before me. I was clapping and the band had to encourage everyone to do the same. When they walked off stage, everyone started clapping in sync. They came out for the encore and what a surprise "Owner of a Lonely Heart". It appeared to me that Jon was convincing Steve to play it as they walked on stage. Don't forget, it is far from a Steve Howe song. He made a good effort. I think it was too simple for him! The crowd went nuts and Jon encouraged them to sing a few verses of the Chorus. Then they played Roundabout and everyone was up and moving.

For those of you who think that communism will come back in Russia, I have this to offer: Front row seats were $600. That is a prime example of their grasp of the concept of supply and demand to me.

On a side note: Roy, I'm sorry we did not hook up. I had to eat the extra ticket and we could not wait outside anymore. Hopefully you made it in and hung out with the band. In that case, My loss. Enjoy the next two shows.

Julia M.

Just wanted to thank everyone at Yes and everyone, who makes Yes happen, for coming such a long way(sorry we did not have snow :))
Fantastic!!!

It was the first Yes show I've seen, and I really do hope it would take them less than 30 years to get back to us.

Yesterday, I was just thinking how amazing it was to see them in Moscow. When Rolling Stones came it was kind of like... well... OK, we're sort of becoming a democratic country, so they just had to come, it's good PR for them and for the country. But Yes is really more of a gift to us and a little bit of a dream. And of course, excellent music and excellent sound!

When Jon said that all of us being together in this special place at this time with the sound and light is "ritual", it was a very good way of saying it. I would even call it worship, because I could certainly feel it being that.

Thanks!!!

Julia

Massimo Cisternino

This was the first time that I saw Yes playing live.Therefore before focusing on this concert I would like to underline that I'm not russian but italian.The acoustic in the Kremlin State Palace was really great probably the best I've ever heard in my life;the concert started with : Close to edge.The band was quite emotioned I think , but they showed that they didn't actually lose any of their techinique and musical attitude.After Close ot edge,the band encouraged by the applauses moved onto:Long Distance Runaround,Don't Go,In The presence Of and The Gates of Delirium wich surprised me a lot because I didn't expect such a great preparation,knowing the difficulty of the piece.
Conseguently Steve made his solo ( as he usually does on most of his concerts ) starting with : Mood for a day and finishing with the Clap ; everything was awesome!.Soon after : And you and I , personllay dedicated from John Anderson to his wife , who was present at the concert together with Steve's wife , if I really have understood everything he said properly.The concert continued with Ritual,followed by a bass and drum solo,I've seen all good people , Owner of a lonely heart,for the pleasure of someone in the audience,and finally the hit Roundabout which left me without words.
The orchestra was left a bit apart,but I think that this was decided directly from the band.Roger Dean's background completed the beauty of the whole concert.