The Dream Concert: Live from the Great Pyramids of Egypt

Background

The concerts included fireworks and a video broadcast from International Space Station commander Scott Kelly, and were recorded in 4K HD for subsequent broadcast on PBS.

To convey an image of stable security after the Egyptian Crisis (2011–14), an Egyptian security force of 3,000 people secured the concert area; the terrorist downing of Metrojet Flight 9268 in the Sinai Peninsula happened to occur on the morning of October 31, 2015 – between the times of the two Cairo concerts.

Yanni's lighting manager for over twenty years, Bud Horowitz, said that the Pyramids location brought its own set of challenges. The Great Pyramid was a kilometer behind the stage, and 24 searchlights had to be brought to Egypt from Germany to light the pyramids and Sphinx in the background so that they were visible beyond the bright stage lighting for the 4K television cameras. It isn't possible to bring the full set of lighting equipment to distant venues – bringing instead only the control consoles – so Horowitz and the production manager had to work in advance to communicate equipment specs to local promoters. Yanni’s shows are cue-specific and timing-specific, with over 2,000 lighting cues for each show.

Track listings

CD #1:

CD #2:

Musician and vocalist credits

Musicians: (alphabetically)

Charles Adams: drumsBenedikt Brydern: violinJason Carder: trumpet and flugelhornYoel Del Sol: percussionVíctor Espínola: harpMing Freeman: keyboardsJames Mattos: French hornSarah O’Brien: celloMary Simpson: violinDana Teboe: tromboneGabriel Vivas: bassYanni: Keyboards, Piano, Primary ArtistSamvel Yervinyan: violinAlexander Zhiroff: cello

Vocalists: (alphabetically)

Lauren JelencovichLisa Lavie

Non-performance credits

Other than musicians and vocalists: (alphabetically)

Producers: Layla Akl, Ashraf Haridy, Robert Murray, Tom Paske, Anthony Stabile, YanniAssociate producers: Mike Regan, Shannon WaldenCinematography: Pete Martich, Whitney Padgett, Randy Taylor, Kenneth Thomas

Misc. category or multiple-role: (alphabetically)

Chris Bellman: Audio Master, MasteringSean Daly: Editing, Photography DirectorMatthew Levin: Director, EditingTravis Meck: Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Engineer, Sound ProductionNorman Moore: Art DirectionColin O'Malley: Orchestration, TranscriptionStuart Russell: ComposerPaul Sarault: EngineerAnthony Stabile: Mixing EngineerTommy Sterling: Composer, Mixing EngineerYanni: Arranger, Composer, Liner Notes, Mixing, Mixing Engineer, Orchestration, Sound Production