Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition (DVD, 2002)

It's great to see one of progressive rock's earliest supergroups perform a classical piece like Pictures At An Exhibition, and have it sound and look as good as it does after all this time. However, there are some visual effects that distract from the music that this viewer would have enjoyed more without it, but when I remember that this video was recorded over 35 years ago, it's no surprise that many in the original audience may have enjoyed more psychedelic effects than are produced in present media.

Musically, Keith Emerson combines the classical elements of the original piece with his own signature synthesizer experimentation, to form a soundscape that brings this music to another level of enjoyment. Carl Palmer's expert synchopation and flavorful percussion belie his youthful appearance, while Greg Lake's vocals, electric and bass guitar complete the blend of special style this trio brings to this haunting masterpiece. Lake's classical guitar on "The Sage" is one of several beautiful and memorable additions to the original music of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.

If you're looking for talented musicians that go past the boundaries of musical expectations of the late '60s and early '70s, this DVD captures a wonderful performance of the time. It truly is a piece of music history.