Deep Purple – “Deep Purple with Orchestra: Live at Montreux 2011” [Blu-ray Review]

This performance was filmed live at Montreux in 2011 and features Deep Purple accompanied by a full philharmonic orchestra. This is not the original cast though, as Steve Morse has taken over the guitar duties and legendary keyboardist Don Airey fills in for John Lord. Substitutions aside, the band does a really good job of ripping through many of their classic hits all nicely reworked to include a background orchestra.

The result is not as odd as it might sound and I think it works quite well, giving new life to some really old tunes such as “Highway Star,” “Woman from Tokyo” and “Smoke On Water.” The caliber of musicians onstage for this lineup is phenomenal and as you would expect, the performance is super-tight. On a slightly downside; however, I found it a bit disappointing that Ian Gillan is not able to hit certain notes like he once was. On several occasions he struggles to reach the notes that once came to him flawlessly. That said, and in my opinion, Gillan remains one of the greatest all time front men and he still has an amazing presence during this performance.

Even with some slight vocal mishaps, the band turns in a really good, high-energy performance that is well worth the price of admission. This Blu-Ray also includes a bonus interview with the band that is both entertaining and informative.

Track Listing:

01. Deep Purple Overture/Highway Star
02. Hard Lovin’ Man
03. Maybe I’m A Leo
04. Strange Kind Of Woman
05. Rapture Of The Deep
06. Woman From Tokyo
07. Contact Lost
08. When A Blind Man Cries
09. The Well Dressed Guitar
10. Knocking At Your Back Door
11. Lazy
12. No One Came
13. Don Airey Solo
14. Perfect Strangers
15. Space Truckin’
16. Smoke On The Water
17. Hush
18. Black Night
Bonus Feature: Interview with Deep Purple

Run Time: 115 minutes
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Check out the song: “Strange Kind Of Woman”