Best of Both Worlds: Concerto for Group and Orchestra (1970 TV Special) User Reviews

Excellent! Ground-breaking stuff!!

[philip-225 · 10/10 · 18 April 2006]

I was only 2 in 1969 when the concert took place, so obviously I didn't see it then. A couple of years ago my wife (who hadn't seen it either)hired the DVD and we sat down with open minds. We weren't disappointed.

The music itself is excellent. Jon Lord broke new ground with this work, proving that the worlds of pop and classical music really aren't that far apart. I know that Paul McCartney and others have proved that many times since, but back in 1969 there was probably a lot more snobbery about classical music. So it's very much to Malcolm Arnold's credit that the concert went ahead.

The DVD is 1st rate, with excellent photography and a very revealing and entertaining commentary by JL, in which he highlighted a number of problems that had to be overcome along the way, like a lady musician who "didn't join the RPO to play 'Second-hand Beatles music'". Obviously the technical quality of the picture isn't quite as good as it would be now, but you have to remember that colour television was in its infancy. The sound has been beautifully re-mastered too.

Brilliant concert... -really the best of both worlds!

[a.krull · 10/10 · 29 November 2001]

This really must be one of the best concerts that Deep Purple ever played. I haven't seen the "remake" they did in 2000 and I don't really want to! It's been ten years more] since I last saw the film or listened to the music and I've been searching all over for a copy of the concert on VHS or DVD. Can't seem to find it. If you [who ever reads this!] know how to get a copy of the film, please contact me at once!

Brilliant performance by both bands, a wonderful concert. See it now!!... (if you can find it :)

Essential time capsule in rock history

[paul-allaer · 9/10 · 10 February 2023]

"The Best of Both Worlds: The Deep Purple in Concert with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" (1970 release; 52 min.) brings the BBC TV release first aired in April, 1970 of the band's extraordinary live performance at the Royal Albert Hall on September 24, 1969, where Jon Lord's "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" received its world premiere. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by none other than Malcolm Arnold, a heavy weight (literally and figuratively) in the classical music world.

Couple of comments: this documentary starts with several minutes of interviews including both Jon Lord and Malcolm Arnold, but then we go to the music itself about 4 minutes in. "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" is brought in 3 movements. The only downside of this TV recording is that for reasons unknown, the BBC cut about 4 minutes from the first movement. Other than that, this documentary is an essential time capsule in rock history. Indeed, Deep Purple (or as the BBC lists them as "The" Deep Purple) was the very first band to interweave rock with classical on this scale (others would follow including Procol Harum, Yes, etc.). Lord's "Concerto" was (perhaps still is?) derided by many in the classical music world. Don't let them fool you. This is an immensely enjoyable piece of music, with the band and the orchestra going back and forth fluently. (Famously, Richie Blackmore afterwards complained about the overall experience, and how he could feel the contempt of the Royal Philharmonic towards the band.)

I hadn't seen this footage in forever and then just the other night, I had an impulse to look for this on YouTube, and there it was. I had the album on vinyl for many years after I "borrowed" it from my older sister back in the day. Then I bought the expanded CD version (I think in the 90s?). But to see the actual footage is the ultimate. If you are familiar with the performance from the album or CD but you've never seen the actual footage as captured by the BBC, you are in for a treat. Enjoy!