Those curious about Pete Townshend’s symphonic reimagining of the Who’s Quadrophenia can now hear the first sample of his ambitious sonic adventure. The musician has shared a video for Love Reign O’er Me, the first taste of Classic Quadrophenia, scheduled for release in June.
As previously reported, Townshend plays electric guitar on the record, but Roger Daltrey is absent from the project. Instead, British tenor Alfie Boe performs Daltrey’s vocal parts. Townshend claims the 41-year-old singer has more in common with his bandmate than musical affinity. “[Alfie] gives every performance his all … He’s a funny man too, and good looking. The girls like him. I can’t wait to be on stage with him. I’m going to push him into the orchestra pit.”
Orchestrated by Townshend’s partner, Rachel Fuller, Classic Quadrophenia will be released by the esteemed classical label Deutsche Grammophon and features the London Oriana Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The world premiere will take place on 5 July 2015, at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with Townshend hoping this version of Quadrophenia will help “reinvigorate” classical audiences, “[bringing] people who might not otherwise go to see a symphony orchestra perform without lights and fireworks and a movie screen”.
Most recently, the Who have been taking their 50th anniversary tour to cities across Europe and America. Their two London arena shows were rescheduled from December, when singer Daltrey was too ill to perform.
The band headline at Hyde Park, London, on 26 June, with Paul Weller, Kaiser Chiefs and Johnny Marr, as part of the British Summertime series.
