Simone and Floor are not only Dutch. They've also been friends for a long time. Greetings from the Netherlands.

Retrospect was EPICA's 10th anniversary show in 2013, with orchestra and choir. A 24 song , 3 hour concert. And Simone was about 3 months pregnant. This was song 21, over 2 hours into it. This was 1 of 2 songs Floor joined them for. The other was a classical piece called Stabat Mater Dolorosa. This song is in the minority or EPICA songs, in that most songs have some of Mark's harsh vocals. It's from the 3rd album in 2007, The Divine Conspiracy. Suggest The Skelton Key or Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the 2021 Omega Alive virtual show, 2 newer songs. Also, Design Your Universe, which was the next song at Retrospect.

This performance belongs to the Retrospect concert, which celebrated the 10 years of the band. It was recorded for distribution on DVD and featured a full symphony orchestra for the occasion.

Simone + Floor = Power Combo !!!! Xena and Gabrielle have done it again 🤘😆🤘. NWSU/FloorFan/Epican.

Orchestra and choir ( including the conductor) were 70 people in total. Epica has 6 members and for two songs floor joined them.

Your reaction is exactly to the point. These are really nice people. And that accounts for the whole European metal scene as for instance gathered around Arjen Lucassen from Ayreon. They all love to play together, like good friends making beauty together. It is chemistry where 1+1=3. The joy they radiate, in whatever combination, is heartwarming. No ego's, no envy. Just, lets make epic music together and have fun ourselves doing it. The audience loves it!!! And it's no act. This is sincere.

This is two best friends

Do you want to know how many musicians were on stage for this performance? Besides the band members there was a 40 piece orchestra and a 30 piece choir. Yeah, that's Epic-a!

For another Floor and Simone duet try listening to Stabat Mater Dolorosa at this same concert. Something completely different where Floor takes the alto part although a natural soprano.

FYI: Retrospect is the 3rd live album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica in celebration of their tenth anniversary. The recorded live show took part in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Because of the great demand by international fans, Epica announced a live stream, called the Retrostream, on March 4, 2013. Epica performed on stage with the same orchestra that accompanied Epica in the recording of the live album The Classical Conspiracy: the 70-piece Extended Hungarian Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and the Choir of Miskolc National Theatre.

Being Dutch but living in Spain for the last 3 years. I am so proud of this band from my home country. I was so lucky, that they played really close to where I live right now, and off course I went to their show. I saw them in Murcia, Spain a couple of months ago, together with Apocalyptica. One of the best show I ever saw. So much good energy between the band members on stage and the same great energy towards the audience. All while doing an extreme tight show. It almost made me tear up..... eh, that wasn't almost.

Hi guys, here is the latest live video from EPICA, it's pretty epic 🙃 EPICA - Unleashed (Live At The AFAS Live)

Hey Chris & Sam. More Epica please. Here are some fun facts for you: 1. Simone was 3 months pregnant at the time - sang for 3 hours (yes, it was a long show) and obviously, she could not headbang/windmill as she normally would do. 2. Epica performed on stage with the same orchestra that accompanied Epica in the recording of the live album The Classical Conspiracy: the 70-piece Extended Hungarian Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and the Choir of Miskolc National Theatre. 3. It became obvious for Coen (keyboard) and Isaac (lead guitar) that the orchestra musicians and choir members needed light to see the partiture the day before the show. So, both went on a hunt for the lights you see clipped onto the boards or node stands. 4. Look behind the drummer. Did you notice the sound barrier put in place (transparent) between him and the orchestra to block the direct patch of propagation between the two.

First of all - a great reaction to a gigantic performance. 👍👍😘😘 It is certainly no coincidence that so many good bands and musicians/singers come from the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. Even if you also have your problems in these countries, of course, the basic attitude of the people is a relaxed and positive one. Accordingly, people go to work here, including musicians. There is no need for drug cocktails and the like - their attitude to life itself is optimistic, which is usually reflected in the music and their performances.

Epica was founded by guitarist and grunter Mark Jansen. No relative but he and Floor worked together in After Forever, Floor's first band.

Even Floor’s “WooHoo!” is pitch perfect. 😄🤘

Grandgrandpa 72 here: In Music College, Floor and Simone got a Dorm together. 😊

Nightwish Army checking in! glad you liked this!

More Epica please, Unleashed - Live at Retrospect is next ❤ kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qN6Uadapsd7Iqac.html

Xena and Gabriele. Amazing. 🤘 This is the reason we called it Symphonic Metal

Another from the Dutch waters: Delain with Charlotte Wessels "Nothing Left" live with a special guest: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j752n6erkrrYln0.html. Enjoy!

Seriously great reaction.... not a single bad song in the whole entire 3 HOUR concert.... all whilst Simone was 3mth pregnant. Best ones to check out are Design Your Universe, Stabat Mater Delarosa (again with Floor), Unleashed. Another great couple to react to are Essence of Silence live from Brussels Belgium, and the original recording of Cry For The Moon one of their earliest works. 🤘

The Netherlands. Tiny country who like to do things big. Maybe because it's not a competition but a collaboration to entertain the public. If you guys like orchestra and choir you should also check out Kensington and Di-rect live on stage at 'Vrienden van Amstel'.

Hi, Chris and Sam I really enjoyed the reaction video I'm a big fan of both Epica and Nightwish. There's a lot of Epica's music for you to look at, especially from this concert eg: Unleashed, the obsessive devotion, chasing the dragon and storm the sorrow. If you are feeling adventures you might like to watch Simone and Floor sing stabat mata dolorosa, which us a cover of Giovanini Battista Pergolesi's sacred music piece (totally a classical piece) for me shows the versatility of Simone and Floor and also the appreciation of the crowd of their ability as singers of immense talent of Simone and Floor.

For more metal and symphony orchestra goodness check Dimmu Borgir: Gateways, live with Norwegian public broadcaster orchesta and choir! It will blow you socks off.

Musicians on stage-----------> Epica: Simone Simons - lead vocals Mark Jansen - lead & rhythm guitar, grunts, screams Isaac Delahaye - lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals Rob van der Loo - bass Coen Janssen - synthesizer, piano Ariën van Weesenbeek - drums Guests: Floor Jansen - vocals on "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" and "Sancta Terra" Ad Sluijter - lead & rhythm guitar on "Quietus" Yves Huts - bass on "Quietus" Jeroen Simons - drums on "Quietus" Tamás Kriston - violin on "Presto" The Extended Hungarian Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra: Benjamin Almassy - violin, Anna Bekes - violin, Zoltan Ficsor - violin, Boglárka Jobbágy-Balog - violin, Szófia Kaulics-Nagy - violin, Maria Császáriné Lazányi - violin, Diana Pavliskó - violin, Eva Siklosi - violin, Eszter Szavári-Sovány - violin, Tamás Kriston - violin, József Kautzky - viola, Anita Kiss - viola, Tamás Tóth - viola, Katalin Tressó - viola, Angelika Beres - cello, Hajnalka Csécsi - cello, Kamilla Matakovics - cello, Arpad Balog - double bass, Peter Lokös - double bass, Gyula Ács - clarinet, Sandor Czimer - clarinet, Istvan Molnar - trombone, Daniel Négyesi - trombone, Gyorgy Aranyosi - trumpet, Peter Gal - trumpet, Peter Lendvai - oboe, Andrea Csécsi - oboe, Janos Dobos - tuba, Tamás Dömötör - timpani, Istvan Halasz - bassoon, Krisztian Jardany - bassoon, Attila Kelemen - French horn, Sándor Horváth - French horn, Marianna Móri - flute, Tamás Siklósi - flute, Mark Viragh - percussion The Choir of Miskolc National Theatre: Anett Baranyai, Boglarka Jambrik, Edina Kecskemeti, Nóra Kiss, Zsuzsa Kurucz, Éva Mészáros, Erika Radnai, Eva Vajda, Dániel Gyetvai, Balázs Bodnár Richard Hegedüs, Andras Marton, Nándor Nagy, Balász Székely, Roland Tötös, Dóra Diána Horváth, Ágnes Jordanov, Diána Kuttor, Mariann Majláth, Éva Orth, Oxana Pacsenko, Annette Simon, Szófia Tarczali, Dávid Dani, Sandor Demeter, Gergely Irlanda, Balazs Kolozsi, Robert Molnar, Mihály Petrány 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟

Hi 😄, You want more of both ? 😁 The same show by EPICA 🤘💞 and the song STABAT MATER DOLOROSA. You will find it quite difftent but - with your eyes wide open - wont regret it. Pure grace, arent they. Greetings from Germany 🤗 alex and EMPPU RULES 😎🤘

A reduced symphony orchestra with strings, winds and copper. a full choir, the band and Floor. What about between 50 and 60 on stage?

For insane live stage shows with beautiful music listen to more to Ayreon’ s Everybody Dies, Age of Shadows and for instance Amazing Flight

Totally majestic!! Such beautiful harmonies, they sound so good together

Having the choir and a symphony orchestra in the background definitely adds a different dimension to the music. I have also seen Metallica S&M concert which also includes an orchestra.

❤Epica and Floor Amazing ❤ Greetings Nightwish Army South Africa ❤😊

Great reaction by the way and I like that you picked up on the fact that Epica get on well on stage. There are some good documentary videos which show just how well they all get on together. Worth checking them out.

There is an old video on KZfaq of the two of them clowning around in Simone's apt. years earlier, with Floor playing piano.

Guitarist Mark Jansen (No relation to Floor) was in After Forever with Floor before forming Epica

Epic

Epica are such a great band. As for Floor, she is the perfect guest performer. There are a lot more collaborations with Floor to come with many people and I have yet to see her overshadow the artist/band she performs with. But boy does she add magic when she appears.

The Retrospect show was their 10th Anniversary show. Although there are so many great songs from this 3-hour show, my favorite is the song Unleashed. For their biggest song ( think Nightwish's The Greatest Show on Earth), watch Kingdom of Heaven Part 3 from the Omega Alive virtual concert. I believe it's one of the best performances I've seen on You Tube.

Stabat Mater Dolorosa is the second duet by Floor and Simone in the live concert.

No Sam, the mic stand is an S for Sam LoL, nice catch it is for Simone (who is also Dutch, thus the Netherlands water comment).

Epica not only has full choirs and orchestras they also have videos with performers

Anything from the Retrospect, Omega Alive, of AFAS Live shows. One of my favorites is a song called In All Conscience from Omega Alive. Simone is brilliant in that performance.

Great reaction! From their 10th anniversary concert with a 70 piece orchestra and 30 member choir on stage. Same orchestra and choir they worked with for their Classical Conspiracy live album recorded at the Miskolc Opera Festival in Miskolc, Hungary. This song swings a little more to the other side of typical Epica. Sancta Terra is Latin (Epica uses Latin in their lyrics frequently) for Holy Land. Song, lyrics by Simone, is about a suicide bomber (thus the middle eastern sounding music at the start) who thinks he has gone to heaven but has in fact gone to hell. However, he finds he likes being in hell, feels at home there, and realizes he is where he is supposed to be. From the Divine Conspiracy album, a concept album whos songs are inspired by the concept that God created multiple religions to test humanity and to see if we could divine that the true nature of all religions is the same and we should all live in harmony. Next from this same concert, Unleashed kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qN6Uadapsd7Iqac.html or Design Your Universe kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b9Scg9teravUc4k.html. For something heavy, Essence of Silence live from Brussels. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hpyYi5ij1auzl40.html. For a beautiful ballad , Rivers live from Chile kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p8l8esqX3rXRink.html or this acoustic version of Tides of Time kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odmdddqpxMm9l4E.html. For a recent music video Sirens - of Blood and Water with Charlotte Wessels and Myrkur kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qdx3hJCins3cZmw.html.

Since you kept wondering: Extended Hungarian Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra and the Choir of Miskolc National Theatre - 70 people

magic

In the tabloid category: Once upon a time Mark Jansen (the guitar player screaming "Floor Jansen") was in the same band together with Floor called After Forever. Mark was (according to some of his band mates) a bit too friendly with the female fans (including some redhead that happens to stand next to Floor in this performance) and Mark was forced to leave After Forever over that, which was very convenient for Floor because that solved many disputes over creative differences she had with Mark. Of course that friendship went below freezing. A couple of years later Mark was having great success with Epica and it turned out to be a good thing he had to leave After Forever. Apologies were made, forgiveness was granted and friendships were reignited. And even when the relationship between Mark and Simone ended, there was no drama and they just continued to deliver awesomeness...together! A long intro to the point I'm trying to make: Such good people for not holding grudges!!! We should learn from that.

You can easily see the female choir, but there is a male choir too (clearly audible at the end)

Nice reaction as always. I think Unleashed from the same show or the official video for Cry for the Moon will be nice for the next show. Oh and Final Lullaby is always a good hit.

Love when artists collaborate with each other. Lzzy Hale, of Halestorm, sings with other bands and vocalists. She and Amy Lee sang Break In, and it is fantastic. Lzzy also did a collaboration with The Hu, Song of Woman, also another amazing performance. You should check them out.

Most female metal singers are from Holand, especially the classical trained singers. Floor, Simone , Sharon (WithinTemptation) Anneke and many many more. Arjan Lucassen (AYREON) is Dutch. Yeah we have lots of water and many good singers (not only metal) so it must be something in the water LD Thanks gentlemen This was an aniversery, that's why they had the orchestra with them for that day. Nightwish/ Tuomas works with the London Philarmonic Orchestra and writes all music for the instruments and choir. But it's way too big for on stage. So they use, like Epica normally, backing tracks.

This was the first time that I know of, that someone made the connection between the mikestand and Simone Simons initials. It is so obvious but still nobody mentioned it.

You should check some items from Epicas "Omega Alive" which is outstanding. Kingdon of Heaven (both parts back to back would be cool), Skeleton Key, Rivers, Once Upon A Nightmare are but a few epic tracks from an amazing show.

One of the funniest things in this video is that without reading comments I didn't realize there were two guitarists _standing on pedestals in front of the stage_. The ladies and the orchestra and the choir kept grabbing my attention.

🤗🍒🤘🏻 well done

There is another symfonic metslband from Holland Within Temptation And a rockchick called Anouk the song more than uou deserve is amazing

Stabat Mater Delorosa is next for these two. Floor sings the alto and Simone Soprano on Stabat. Hi Guys You should rezct to Simone singing River.

Same gig, same two ladies. Always bet on the red AND the black! "Stabat Mater Dolorosa"!

Yep. It's that good! I love how their friendship is so obvious. As for the choir, I first missed it, too. Ultimately, I really like the tenors and baritones in the choir. Their part in the arrangement gives it some unique depth. Many thanks!

Epica is indeed a very friendly band. Once during a show in "het paard" in the hague, some idiot smoked on the toilet so the firealarm went off, cutting all the power.... So no panic, lights went on. The band started jamming acoustically and Simone went to get pints of beers for the crowd, handing them out. Just no egos and vool people. my favourite band ever

Who remember Xena and Gabrielle? Here they are.

As I told you in your last Epica video: Double your pleasure, double your fun! I recommend your next Epica review to be Kingdom of Heaven, Part 3 from Omega Alive and/or Design Your Universe - from this same Retrospect concert. Enjoy the journey.

Definitely need to listen to Sabat Mater Delorosa from this same concert.

I feel like seeing an orchestra or a full symphony orchestra in a metal concert is pretty normal here in Europe. So it's fun to hear you haven't seen it before. But it's also surprising, because Metallica, arguably one of, if not the biggest metal band in the world has had two insanely huge shows with the San Francisco symphony. So it's not unheard of in the US, just done a lot more in European metal.

🐕hey Chris and Sam

Your guess at the number of people on stage is a bit of an underestimate - the total was 82

Retrospect was a 3 hour show and /simone was three months pregnant. Sancta Terra was the second last track of the main set so Simone had been on stage for over 2 hours at that point. The show featured everything from symphonic metal masterpieces, ballads, classical instrumentals and even another duet between Simone and Floor, singing a 13th Century Latin hymn, Stabat Mater Dolorosa. So it is worth spending a bit of time reacting to more of the show before checking out some of the newer stuff. I recommend starting with Unleashed as it perfectly demonstrates their collaboration with the orchestra and choir. Here are some links… Unleashed - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qN6Uadapsd7Iqac.html Delirium - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fKeJg6eXmMDPYWg.html Chasing the Dragon (with sub-titles) - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rtyTkrqJx7zOcas.html The Divine Conspiracy - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l5aEqdWlztS2h4k.html Design Your Universe - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b9Scg9teravUc4k.html Presto - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oaqjiM2TtL6XqJs.html Stabat Mater Dolorosa - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pM6kgrKDvrqrqGw.html

Yup, a Goddess, a Queen and six trolls. LOL!

epica beyond the matrix live at the zenith paris is jumping fun and somethin new probably kindom of heaven pt 3 or unchain utopia from omega alive

Good reaction. Amazing band. Got the DVD from this 3 hour concert. Seen them live twice now. The first time with their 20th anniversary show last year and next with their collaboration show with Apocalyptica this year. Maybe next a song from their latest album and played in a livestream during covid. “The Skelaton Key”. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sK-KntmZzrW5hWw.html Thanks for this reaction.

Hello Offset Era, great and honest reaction as always. As so many mentioned facts to Epica and Floor, you maybe want to have a look into 2 other bands: Soilwork and Dimmu Borgir. First one did a live DVD recording in Helsinki, when Floor Jansen joined them for the song "let this river flow" kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y9-IdZp0p5yonYk.html Second one are not with Floor, but they did a full tour with Orchestra and Choir and recorded two of these concerts. First video is Dimmu Borgirs song "Gateways" --> kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jq2flM5lrrmngIk.html from the Oslo concert Second one, called "Mourning Palace" is from Wacken and has some great headbanging action in it --> kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ec1moZaLzbHbpGg.html Enjoy and stay safe

A groovy dark happy song, cannot withstand the headbanging. I recommend Dutch 'siren gothic metal' band Blackbriar, song 'Weakness and Lust' kzfaq.info/get/bejne/msl-dqyW3L3Mcqc.html and my favorite funeral song: 'Deadly Diminuendo'

Please, do Stabat Mater Dolorosa, from the same concert. Again Simone and Floor, but different.

S for Simone Simmons, yes. She had it custom made

Minus the band.....70 musici. This show is going on for three hours !!! 😝

😁😁

🤘😎🤘

If you enjoy this kind of performances, you should check out a band called, Dimmu Borgir "Gateways" live. You shall not be disappointed.

Floor and Simone are best friends.

Next "The Essence of Silence" live then " Consign to Oblivion" live!!!

Guys the warning just released an incredible new version of narcisista live where pau is off of the drums and singing her heart out, you have to react to it when you get the chance

What are the Dutch putting in the water? Bicycles. Which I might try actually. If you have any bicycles you want to get rid of, I’ll take them.

Both Floor and Simone (and Epica) are Dutch and long time friends: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qdKXibGq0JzHm3k.html

The mic stand was especially designed for Simone Simons. Could have been a gift to her, but don't know the details about it...

Also j offense to you guys, but I know baldy, with the white beard hair knows and remembers, probably likes head bangers ball, that used to be on VH1, I’m jot far behind him. Though I still got the vast majority of my hair and Bailey any white/grey anymore after a decade after I gout it the Ciorps and three deployments, I lost a lot of hair/was total salt and peer like 40’s and older, though I was early 20’s at the time. Lol,Helmand province is a bitch like that. But he’s old enough to know what I’m talking about. I’m barely old enough by just over a year or so, to really remember it in all it’s glory. Epica, is all the glory of head bangers ball, for those old enough to know, if you aren’t look it up, you won’t be disappointed.

40 piece orchestra and a choir of 30

Give a symphonic death metal band a try with DIMMU BORGIR and their song Gateways (live), they also have a full choir and symphony playing on stage with them and it’s pretty cool. If I knew how to post video here I would but I am not sure what to do.

try visions of atlantis pirates will return live offical drummer is napalm records ceo

Hi ! Thank you for this reaction ! 🙂👍 Could you please react to Epica "Unleashed" live Retrospect ? It's the same concert. Here is the link : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qN6Uadapsd7Iqac.html Thank you again and have a great day ! 🙂

Great reaction but the words you needed are “orchestra” and “choir”, not symphony and chorus. 😉 Edit: you finally dredged “choir” up.

Floor just towers over Simone.Dutch are one of the tallest people in Europe, but Floor must be tall even for them (i mean, Simone is also dutch). I have to say, in higher reg. i prefer Floor's voice over Simone's.

wow, you stopped the nightwish journey? Btw the guitarplayer and drummer played in Floor's first band After Forever. In the Netherlands most metalheads also love classical music and it's beautiful combined.

Greetings guys. About your post reaction comment on Floor, you have no idea. May I suggest subscribing to her channel and checking out her uploads; Saturday Storytime Floor Finds Fan Friday and get to know her on a more personal level outside of music. She is absolutely a beautiful human being. Not a reaction request unless you feel you want to. And no pressure, I promise, but I'm sure the fans wouldn't mind watching those videos with you. It's "Floor" after all. ❤️ Thanks you for the video, reaction and comments. Stay safe and stay blessed. 😊❤️🤘🤘

EPICA the forgotten Songs Resign to surrender..Architect of light Sensorium The second stone Phantom Agony Storm the sorrows!!!

Saw Supertramp twice. First time, they were amazing in their effort at performance. Second time, the band was breaking up, it was the worst concert I ever saw.

Ooohhhh - will Epica fans ever hate that you brought up Nightwish….. regardless of the origin of the reaction….

🇫🇮❤Too many comments to read, so I might repeating this, but Simone was several months pregnant in this show & had already been singing for two hours, which is why they boosted her microphone for this duet to compensate fatigue and diminished lung capacity. P.S. According to Simone, this song is about a suicide bomber who dies & thinks he's in heaven, but is actually in hell.

No offense…but saying this band did well, is lien saying water is wet, space is up, mach 3 is fast..,bacon is good…all are drastically understated, this band did well…pff, lol. Sorry, I gotta take a slight dig at you guys for saying that with a straight face.

This song is only hyped because of Floor Jansen. The song is very mediocre for the band, because in 20 years of creativity they have dozens of cool songs, much more worthy of listening and watching .. It's a shame. As for this concert with the orchestra, I recommend these two: Epica - Design your universe (live retrospect) Epica - Chasing the dragon (live retrospect) Both songs are awesome. Sancta terra and next to them is not worth

SUGGEST ABOUT 25 more EPICA songs the OMEGA VIDEOS THE OLD DAYS WOW SONG AFTER SONG TRY THE SECOND STONE ITS GOTHIC IT KICKS ASS

Wat en......