Yanni, "Live At The Acropolis" (1994)

Every artist dreams of a triumphant homecoming. Few have ever had one quite like this. Yanni left his native Greece as a teenager to study in America, and over the next two decades he built a career as one of the world's most successful instrumental musicians, largely self-taught and entirely on his own terms. On September 25, 1993, he returned home in grand style. "Live At The Acropolis" captures that unforgettable night, held beneath the golden glow of the Parthenon in the nearly 2,000-year-old Odeon of Herodes Atticus, whose majestic stone arches made for one of the most breathtaking concert settings imaginable. A standing-room-only crowd welcomed its native son with open arms, and Yanni rewarded them with a heartfelt, emotion-filled performance of his most beloved compositions. Backed by his band and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra of London under conductor Shardad Rohani, he delivers sweeping renditions of "Santorini," "Keys To Imagination," "The Rain Must Fall," "Nostalgia" and the title track from his platinum-selling album "Reflections Of Passion," blending lush orchestral color with his signature melodic style. Directed by six-time Emmy winner George Veras, the production brought together an international crew of more than 200 lighting technicians, sound engineers and camera operators, and every bit of that effort shows in the stunning results. The combination of ancient grandeur and modern musicianship is spellbinding, capturing the hearts of young and old alike. This concert went on to become one of the most celebrated performances of Yanni's career, introducing his music to millions around the world. It took twenty years of hard work and an unwavering belief in his own vision to reach this stage, and on this night, every one of those years paid off.